Washington, D.C.—Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) released the following statement today in response to the formation of a coalition unity government in Lebanon:
"I would like to congratulate the people of Lebanon on yesterday's news that a government has been presented by Prime Minister Saad Hariri and accepted by President Michel Suleiman. As time-consuming and complicated as negotiations have been, Prime Minister Hariri and President Suleiman have never wavered in their commitment to Lebanese sovereignty, unity and democratic values. America, too, remains committed to strengthening Lebanon's emerging democratic institutions. I hope that Lebanon's new cabinet will work toward the full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1559 and 1701."
UN Security Council Resolutions 1559 and 1701 reaffirmed, in 2004 and 2006, the international community's commitment to Lebanon's independence and sovereignty. Among other things, they called for non-interference by outside forces into Lebanon's internal politics, the disbanding of all militias inside Lebanon, and full control of Lebanese territory by its government and military.
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