The United States has welcomed the formation of a new Lebanese unity government and urged it to work to extend its authority over the entire country. “The United States will stand by those partners who share our commitment to Lebanese sovereignty,” the White House said in a statement Tuesday.
“We look forward to working with a new Lebanese government that is committed to extending its authority over all of Lebanon, and to advancing political and economic reforms that benefit the people of Lebanon,” it said.
Those goals offered “a clear path toward the advancement of peace and stability, and economic opportunity – both in Lebanon and the region,” the statement said, adding that there could be “no lasting solution in the region reached at Lebanon’s expense.”
Prime Minister Saad Hariri formed the new unity government late Monday after more than four months of difficult negotiations with the Hizbullah -led opposition.
“The formation of a national unity government in Lebanon is a positive development for both the people of Lebanon and the region. Stability in Lebanon is vital to peace in the Mideast,” British Foreign Minister David Miliband said Wednesday.
“I wish the government well as it starts to carry out its program of political, social and economic reforms. The United Kingdom will work with the new Lebanese government to support reform inside Lebanon and peace in the wider region,” he added.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown also sent Hariri a message congratulating him on forming the government and wishing him well in implementing political, social and economic reform that they have set out and are included within Paris III and the European Neighborhood Action plan.
On Tuesday, Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon congratulated Lebanon’s prime minister on forming a national unity government, but added Ottawa would maintain its break with Hizbullah.
Cannon said Canada “congratulates” Hariri and offers its “full support to him and to the people of Lebanon.”
“We look forward to working with the new government to support continued reforms, expand and diversify our trade relationship, and strengthen cultural and academic ties between our countries,” he said.
However, “we will maintain our principled policy of having absolutely no contact with Hizbullah officials,” he said.
Hizbullah is listed as a terrorist organization in Canada.
The Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas on Wednesday called on the newly formed Lebanese unity government to improve conditions for hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees in the country.
“Hamas wishes prosperity and development for Lebanon and asks the new government to pay particular attention to the situation of Palestinian refugees,” the Damascus-based political bureau of Hamas said in a statement.
The statement, addressed to Hariri and President Michel Sleiman, urged the Lebanese government “to issue laws in favor of the civil and social rights” of Palestinian refugees.
According to the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, there are between 350,000 and 400,000 Palestinian refugees in Lebanon – a country of just over 4 million inhabitants – most of them living in 12 camps.
Palestinian refugees in Lebanon have no legal status and unlike Lebanese citizens, they do not enjoy free medical care or social security benefits even if employed.
They are also barred from several professions and are not allowed to purchase real estate or form associations.
Many in Lebanon fear that by granting the Palestinians more basic rights, this would lead to their permanent settlement in the country and alter the demographic map.
Hamas in its statement however described Palestinian refugees in Lebanon as “guests” and said they “remain attached to the right of return [to Palestine].”
“The Palestinian people … affirm their determination to preserve the security and stability of Lebanon,” the statement added. – Agencies
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