Obama Calls Salam, Urges Timely Presidential Vote Without Foreign Meddling
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Prime Minister Tammam Salam on Friday received a phone call from U.S. president Barack Obama who congratulated him over the new cabinet's formation.
Obama stressed during the call on the importance of holding the presidential elections on time, before the constitutional deadline.
He also emphasized that the vote must take place without any foreign interference.
The U.S. president urged strengthening the disassociation policy, noting the importance of national unity.
He also assured that the United States will continue supporting Lebanon.
Meanwhile, Salam expressed his appreciation of Obama's support, vowing to preserve Lebanon's democratic path.
Almost a year since he was designated, Salam won on Thursday a parliamentary vote of confidence after 96 MPs voted in favor of his government.
The government line-up was announced on February 15, after 10 months of political wrangling.
But another five weeks were needed for final parliamentary approval because of disagreement within the government over the thorny issues of resistance against Israel and the Baabda Declaration.
However, last week, the cabinet agreed a compromise formula that no longer accords Hizbullah a specific "resistance" role, yet affirms that all citizens have the "right to resist the Israeli occupation, repel its attacks and take back the occupied territory."
After all the time taken to form it, the new government's mandate is set to expire by May 25. That is the date by which parliament must vote on a new president, who will then choose a new government.
21 March 2014, 21:41
45
No southern. It is not foreign meddling. It is friendly advice. You are not living in Lebanon. You dont know the help the americans are giving us. There are a big number of american micro initiatives to help the state of lebanon and its people.
Unline your medieval iranian bullshit state who interferes day in and day out by arming half the lebanese against the other half, and have us interfere in countless wars and sufferings.
Tfeh 3al iran.
21 March 2014, 23:36
27
what is southern complaining about, nobody knows! The US president says the elections should take place on time without foreign intervention. This bothers you, southern, or as @jerry said when assad specifies what kind of president we should have it does not bother you. Indeed strange and distorted logic.
22 March 2014, 09:00
00
To:southern. So you don't like the U.S. Why don't you send your militia, the Syrian and Iranian armies to teach them a lesson? Do you think they give a shit about what you people say about them? I tell you this: if the U.S. decides to loosen their immigration policy for the Lebanese, you will be the first in line to get a visa, along with some 3 million Lebanese. Ignorant!
22 March 2014, 13:54
10
sure M8ers have NEVER been disturbed by the appointment of the lebanese president by syrians..... but now they are as it goes against their allegiance to the syrian regime! they DO NOT care about lebanon as long as the syrian interests are at stake!
TRAITORS!
