Obama Congratulates Lebanese on Independence Day, Regrets Presidential Vacuum
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
U.S. President Barack Obama congratulated the Lebanese people on Friday on the occasion of Lebanon's 71st Independence Day, lamenting on the anniversary the current vacuum in the presidency.
He said in a message to Lebanon: “As a friend of the Lebanese people, the United States regrets this anniversary day passes without an elected president of the Lebanese Republic, an important but missing symbol of the unity of the nation and a key factor in promoting Lebanese sovereignty and stability.”
“The election of a president must be a Lebanese decision only, but it is a decision that must be taken for the sake of the Lebanese people,” he added.
“The United States strongly supports Lebanon's founding principles of sovereignty and independence, and the exercise of freedoms for all,” he continued.
“The United States is proud of our strong relations with the Lebanese people. These include economic, cultural, and educational ties over many generations.,” said Obama.
“These ties have been bolstered by the numerous contributions of Americans of Lebanese descent,” he stressed.
“We are also proud of our longstanding relationship with the Lebanese Armed Forces, and the Internal Security Forces, and of our contributions to the development of these state institutions, which alone have the legitimacy and responsibility to defend Lebanon's borders and safeguard its citizens, and are accountable to all Lebanese,” he remarked.
“The United States will continue to stand with our Lebanese partners in the face of the threat extremists pose to our countries and the world,” stated the U.S. president.
“The Lebanese people are among the most resilient in the world. I am confident that, with the support of the international community, they can continue to overcome adversity and build a path to stability and prosperity in the face of the numerous challenges Lebanon is facing in the region today,” he noted.
“The Lebanese people deserve this and more. On this happy occasion, I pay tribute to them and to the enduring ties between our two countries,” he concluded.
Independence Day falls on November 22, marking Lebanon's independence from the French mandate in 1943.
21 November 2014, 17:12
62
The Islamic Republic of Iran strongly supports Lebanon's founding principles of sovereignty and independence, and the exercise of freedoms for all who support our resistance.
21 November 2014, 17:35
00
The Islamic Republic's hegemony with its mentor the Hizb al Chaitan are foreign to our culture and our counrty; go resist somewhere else we don't need both of you you....
21 November 2014, 19:18
61
You already have Obomba, why do you want to force Geagea on us too texas? You Americans can't have the whole world you know.
21 November 2014, 20:19
13
@texas, don't wast your time with brained washed ASSad supporters.
21 November 2014, 20:44
10
@Mystic
I have read your earlier comments and I agreed with a few of them. However I disagree with you on the above comment. No one is forcing Geagea. As a matter of fact he is inelectable. But why is M8 boycotting the sessions? it is to impose a lunatic and a corrupt man called Aoun? Aoun will never be elected he is senile and unreliable and unfit to be president. In fact I seriouslt doubt that HA would want him a President. So let us all deide on a decent Lebanese who can put the country on the right path. May I suggest Damianos Khattar or Ziad Barod. They are by far more qualified to be president
21 November 2014, 22:07
40
America Israel, wants Geagea to be President, in order to outlaw any Resistance in Lebanon. This is a true fact, and not a theory, Geagea mentioned many times in his campaigns, that he would outlaw the Resistance, if he reached the Baabda.
It will not happen, and Lebanon will be going through a very dark time, if Geagea reaches anything.
So you westernes have to accept the fact, that we will not bow down to your garbage, if you want a President so badly, you can have Obama, he suits you just fine.
21 November 2014, 22:20
03
would hezbollah shoot at the army they so dearly defend if ever as you say mystic geagea became president and ordered the army to disarm hezbollah so? they d rather destroy Lebanon rather than giving their weapons to the state they so hypocritically pretend to defend! LOL
21 November 2014, 22:28
30
@peace, no because it will never happen. Only in your wishful fantasies. Dream with Texas, you can even tell him a goodnight story.
Majority of Lebanese still support the Resistance guys, that is one of the reason why this is going on. Only you immigrants living abroad, can blabber all day & night like Geagea.
21 November 2014, 23:02
40
Ofcourse texas, that is what Obama wants you to say. Instead, you should go to a country called Lebanon, you never been in, and see for yourself.
21 November 2014, 23:21
01
take hezbi arms and you ll see how many shia would still follow hezbollah....
just like millions of libyans shouted the glory of khaddafi but once destitued no more support he had LOL
22 November 2014, 00:11
01
@Mystic
I regret to tell you that I think your comments all the way down are out of line
sorry
21 November 2014, 22:07
40
Here comes the tony montana from America, talking about Lebanon with an American colored cedre tree.
Very convincing huh?
21 November 2014, 22:17
20
Even more funnier, is the fact that anonymous texas, cried the other day about some fantasy he had, of a cyper-hezbollah force trying to kill him.
Yet here he is, full of life, saying "Thank you President Obama"
Very amusing indeed.
21 November 2014, 22:38
20
What sidetrack? You are the one trying to dodge the fact, that you were such a pansy.
21 November 2014, 20:49
11
Southern
No need to condemn Israel. I think what is more important is to have effective and competent Arab leaders. we are grossly lacking that, King Abdallah of the KSA Sissi, King Abdallah of Jordan to name a few. let's first get our house in order and elect a competent president for our country. As I mentioned earlier I suggest Damianos Khattar or Ziad Baroud or other competent Lebanese to be president and lead our country back to prosperity and political stability. Neither Aoun nor Geagea are fit to be president
21 November 2014, 21:53
22
sure M11er, M8ers have a sick obsession with israel and are so blind to see that the syrian regime is protecting israel and shifting the fight in Lebanon instead of having the guts to resist and liberate their land... they support a regime that prefers Lebanon to be destroyed by israel rather than risking their country to engage a war....
they really suffer from schizophrenia...
if they hated israel so much they would do as you said: stop protecting a regime protecting israel! LOL
but israel is very good for their propaganda, without it hezbollah would have nothing to sell its sheep... as politically they are unable to propose a Platform for the developpement of Lebanon...
21 November 2014, 23:13
02
Mystic, please stop your Hezbo propaganda. Your militia is protecting a regime that protects your "enemy" aka Israel. The Assads haven't laid a finger on Israel in four decades. Assad is as much an American-Israeli puppet as Geagea or any of the March 14 guys.
Seriously, do you believe the US wants Assad gone? If they wanted him gone, they would have put boots on the ground and after three weeks they'd find him hiding in a spider hole just like Saddam. You should be thanking the US for keeping your mass murdering ally in power.
