Bush to Hariri: U.S. Wants Lebanon Independent and Free of Syrian Intimidation
Saad Hariri has met with President George Bush who said that the United States was committed to see Lebanon achieve its independence and democracy, free from Syrian intimidation.
We just had a very interesting and important discussion about our mutual desire for Lebanon to be free -- free of foreign influence, free of Syrian intimidation, free to chart its own course," said Bush after meeting with Hariri at his Oval Office Friday.
The U.S. president said he along with many U.S. citizens of Lebanese descent wanted to see "Lebanon flourish and thrive."
"It will be very important for the region for Lebanon's democracy to be able to reach its full potential. There's no doubt in my mind, with the focused effort of the free world reminding Syria to uphold U.N. Resolution 1559, we will be able to achieve the objective" he added.
The talks concluded Hariri's week-long meetings in Washington where he conferred with top administration officials and congressmen. His 50-minute talks with Bush were also attended by U.S. Secretary of States Condoleezza Rice and National Security Advisor Steve Hadley.
Bush also expressed the U.S. determination to see that those responsible for the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri be brought to justice.
We expect there to be a full and firm investigation. The people who are responsible for your dad's death need to be held to account," Bush said.
A U.N. committee is investigating Hariri's assassination Feb. 14 in Beirut. The murder, largely blamed on Syria and its Lebanese allies, sparked an international outcry and led to the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon, ending 30 years of military presence.
However, anti-Syrian politicians accuse Damascus of continuing to intervene in the neighboring country and blame it for being behind a string of assassinations targeting politicians and journalists.
Bush said he and Hariri discussed putting together a global donors' conference to raise funds to help Lebanon.
So I talked about a donors' conference -- he's going to work the world community to try to help organize a conference to help the Lebanese people get going," the U.S president said.
Outside the White House, Hariri told reporters he had also discussed the conference with Vice President Dick Cheney and that a date would be set soon.
Hariri said the International Monetary Fund would send an envoy to the region February 7 to start working "seriously" on setting up such a conference.
He said he disused the security situation in Lebanon with the U.S. president who expressed concern about the killing of figures opposed to Syria, specially the murder of An Nahar General Manager Gebran Tueni, An Nahar said.
Hariri, who heads the parliamentary majority, said he asked Bush for U.S. assistance to the Lebanese police and military in terms of military and communication equipment.
With regards to Hizbullah's weapons, Hariri said the matter would be solved through national dialogue. The international community, led by the United States, is putting pressure on the Lebanese government to implement the remaining clauses of Resolution 1559, specially the one calling for disarming all militias in Lebanon.
Hizbullah argues that it is a resistance movement not a militia and wants the government to officially adopt its position.
They want to be part of rebuilding Lebanon," Hariri said of the armed group.
Speaking of the U.N. investigation, Hariri said, "What we want to see in Lebanon is full cooperation with the commission. The faster Syria cooperates the better it is for them.
We are not after revenge. In our part of the world revenge is easy to achieve. We want justice," he added.(AP-Naharnet)
We just had a very interesting and important discussion about our mutual desire for Lebanon to be free -- free of foreign influence, free of Syrian intimidation, free to chart its own course," said Bush after meeting with Hariri at his Oval Office Friday.
The U.S. president said he along with many U.S. citizens of Lebanese descent wanted to see "Lebanon flourish and thrive."
"It will be very important for the region for Lebanon's democracy to be able to reach its full potential. There's no doubt in my mind, with the focused effort of the free world reminding Syria to uphold U.N. Resolution 1559, we will be able to achieve the objective" he added.
The talks concluded Hariri's week-long meetings in Washington where he conferred with top administration officials and congressmen. His 50-minute talks with Bush were also attended by U.S. Secretary of States Condoleezza Rice and National Security Advisor Steve Hadley.
Bush also expressed the U.S. determination to see that those responsible for the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri be brought to justice.
We expect there to be a full and firm investigation. The people who are responsible for your dad's death need to be held to account," Bush said.
A U.N. committee is investigating Hariri's assassination Feb. 14 in Beirut. The murder, largely blamed on Syria and its Lebanese allies, sparked an international outcry and led to the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon, ending 30 years of military presence.
However, anti-Syrian politicians accuse Damascus of continuing to intervene in the neighboring country and blame it for being behind a string of assassinations targeting politicians and journalists.
Bush said he and Hariri discussed putting together a global donors' conference to raise funds to help Lebanon.
So I talked about a donors' conference -- he's going to work the world community to try to help organize a conference to help the Lebanese people get going," the U.S president said.
Outside the White House, Hariri told reporters he had also discussed the conference with Vice President Dick Cheney and that a date would be set soon.
Hariri said the International Monetary Fund would send an envoy to the region February 7 to start working "seriously" on setting up such a conference.
He said he disused the security situation in Lebanon with the U.S. president who expressed concern about the killing of figures opposed to Syria, specially the murder of An Nahar General Manager Gebran Tueni, An Nahar said.
Hariri, who heads the parliamentary majority, said he asked Bush for U.S. assistance to the Lebanese police and military in terms of military and communication equipment.
With regards to Hizbullah's weapons, Hariri said the matter would be solved through national dialogue. The international community, led by the United States, is putting pressure on the Lebanese government to implement the remaining clauses of Resolution 1559, specially the one calling for disarming all militias in Lebanon.
Hizbullah argues that it is a resistance movement not a militia and wants the government to officially adopt its position.
They want to be part of rebuilding Lebanon," Hariri said of the armed group.
Speaking of the U.N. investigation, Hariri said, "What we want to see in Lebanon is full cooperation with the commission. The faster Syria cooperates the better it is for them.
We are not after revenge. In our part of the world revenge is easy to achieve. We want justice," he added.(AP-Naharnet)
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