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WELCOMING REMARKS BY THE
AMBASSADOR OF LEBANON
MR. ANTOINE CHEDID
It gives me great honor to serve as
Ambassador of Lebanon to the
United States. Having occupied
previous diplomatic posts in this
great country, this prestigious
assignment is very meaningful to me
personally.
Based on a great degree of shared
values and on a long history of
cooperation and friendship, the
relationship between Lebanon and the
United States has been very
close. The Americans of Lebanese
descent have contributed
immensely in strengthening these
ties by actively participating in
all aspects of American life,
thus promoting the mutual interests
of our two great nations.
Lebanon and its brave army who acted
heroically in the face of
terrorism share the same human and
civic values as the United States
that are based on fighting
extremism, rejecting fanaticism and
sectarianism and protecting
democracy, human rights, the freedom
of expression, and public
liberties.
My country has faced many years of
turmoil and suffering, which I
don’t believe to be justified. The
Lebanese people have again
demonstrated their undying
commitment to independence and
sovereignty. They have also
shown their adherence to the
principles of democracy by
demonstrating their consensus,
moderation, and diversity. After a
long awaited election, the
Lebanese elected their new
President-General Michel Sleiman-whom
I am honored to represent.
As a democratically elected
president whose mandate is anchored
in strong consensus, President
Sleiman has demonstrated his
commitment to defend the
interests of Lebanon, to maintain
its sovereignty, and to achieve
political, economic, and
administrative reforms.
The government of Lebanon realizes
that the support of the
international community is paramount
to achieving these goals and it has
shown that it will exert all
efforts to implement the Paris III
provisions. The United States
has been instrumental and generous
towards this end, and its support
comes in full harmony with our
willingness and efforts to rebuild
Lebanon. This support, along
with American financial and economic
assistance, is important in
helping us achieve our goal of a
prosperous and stable Lebanon.
However, Lebanon believes that
sustainable prosperity and stability
can only be attained if and
when Israel withdraws from the
occupied Shebaa Farms, ceases its
violation of Lebanese waters and air
space, cooperates fully with the
United Nations to help clear the
mines and cluster bombs it dropped
on our land, and fully implements
United Nations Security
Council Resolution 1701.
Lebanon looks forward to a just and
lasting peace in the Middle East
as expressed in the Beirut-Arab
Peace
initiative of 2002 which addressed
the needs of all parties
involved. In this regard, Lebanon
remains committed to the
charter of the United Nations and
our observance to all its
resolutions are due to our
firm commitment to the International
Law based on the principles of
justice and right.
While serving as Ambassador I intend
to make our Embassy in
Washington and consulates in New
York, Detroit, and Los Angeles a
home away from home. All
channels of communication will be
open to the Lebanese living in
the United States, to the Americans,
and to all our friends.
President Michel Sleiman, the
Lebanese Government and people
aspire to strengthen the existing
ties between our two countries and
look forward to developing the
historical relationship between the
United States and Lebanon.
During my tenure as Ambassador of
Lebanon to the United States, I
shall spare no effort to achieve
these goals.
Antoine
Chedid
Ambassador of Lebanon to the United
States of America
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