Bush lauds Lebanese efforts at reconciliation

Suleiman tells US president his country shares many American values, including the promotion of liberty and the fight against terrorism.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
suleiman laughs 248.88 (photo credit: )
suleiman laughs 248.88
(photo credit: )
US President George W. Bush on Thursday applauded efforts by Lebanon's new president to promote reconciliation in a country the United States considers key to combating extremism in the Middle East. In remarks at the outset of a White House meeting with President Michel Suleiman, Bush said he has watched carefully the public statements that Suleiman has made since taking office in May. "Your statements impressed me and we're most impressed by the national dialogue that you're holding in an attempt to seek reconciliation," Bush said as reporters looked on. "The United States is proud to stand by your side. Our mission is your mission: a country that is strong and capable, a country where people can make a peace." Suleiman, seen as relatively friendly with Syria, was installed as president in a compromise after Hizbullah blocked pro-Western factions from electing a politician who took a harder-line stance against Syria. Suleiman's talks with Bush on Thursday also were expected to cover the expansion of the Lebanese army and peace talks between Syria and Israel. Under Lebanon's sectarian power-sharing system, the post of prime minister goes to a Sunni Muslim. The majority is headed by Sunnis while the opposition is led by Shi'ites. Clashes last May between Hizbullah's Shi'ite supporters and pro-government Sunni loyalists in Beirut and other areas left 81 people dead and more than 200 wounded. Sitting beside Bush in the Oval Office, Suleiman said his country shares many US values, including the promotion of liberty and the fight against terrorism. And he thanked Bush for his administration's support of the Lebanese government, particularly efforts to bolster the Lebanese army. "There are so many things in common between the American people and the Lebanese people. We are here also to reaffirm our rights to have a prosperous Lebanon, a democratic Lebanon," Suleiman said. "Mr. President, we are also here to affirm the need to liberate all Lebanese territories and also to make it clear that the future of Palestinian refugees is in their homeland, not in Lebanon." The US financial crisis was taking center stage at the White House on Thursday, with the two presidential candidates, Barack Obama and John McCain, and congressional leaders scheduled to meet there to discuss a rescue plan for financial markets. Those meetings were last-minute additions to Bush's schedule. Already on the calendar were Bush's meetings with Suleiman, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is in Washington trying to rally congressional support for a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Mideast peace was the topic of Bush's talks with Abbas.