The United States on Friday congratulated Saad Hariri on being named Prime Minister-designate of Lebanon, describing it as “another important step to help build a better future for all citizens.”
“The Lebanese people deserve an inclusive government that promotes peace and stability, restores basic services, and confronts the range of economic, political… and security challenges currently facing the country,” U.S. State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner said.
“The United States stands with the people of Lebanon in support of a secure, stable, and sovereign state,” he added.
Asked about media reports suggesting that Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will be among the first foreign officials to visit Beirut next week to meet with President Michel Aoun and Hariri, Toner said the U.S. will “judge the new government by its actions.”
“We’re aware of its affiliation or at least its backing or support of, rather, of Hizbullah. But as we’ve made clear, we’re going to look to see what kind of new government they form and whether it’s in accordance with the constitution,” he added.
“This isn’t the first time that we’ve confronted a very complex political environment in Lebanon,” Toner went on to say.
Aoun was elected Lebanon’s 13th president on Monday after around two and a half years of presidential vacuum. Key support from Hariri, Hizbullah and the Lebanese Forces contributed to his election.
Analysts have warned that Aoun’s election will not be a “magic wand” for Lebanon, which has seen longstanding political divisions exacerbated by the war in neighboring Syria and has struggled to deal with an influx of more than a million Syrian refugees.
In addition to pledges of economic growth and security, Aoun said in his oath of office that Lebanon must work to ensure Syrian refugees “can return quickly” to their country.
Aoun also pledged to endorse an “independent foreign policy” and to protect Lebanon from “the fires burning across the region.”
