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US re-affirms robust support for Lebanon, praises military

WASHINGTON, April 25 (KUNA) -- The United States has renewed its unwavering support for the Lebanese legitimate authorities praising the army for its courageous confrontations against Islamic militants.
The super power's renewed stance came during a meeting between Vice President Joe Biden with the visiting former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri held late on Friday, the Office of the Vice President announced. Biden "reaffirmed the United States' support for Lebanon's sovereignty and independence, as well as the wide-ranging partnership between the United States and the government and people of Lebanon," the announcement said.
Biden "praised the courage of the Lebanese Armed Forces in confronting extremists inside Lebanon and expressed support for Lebanon's policy of dissociation from the conflict in Syria," the statement said.
The Vice President and former Prime Minister discussed regional and international developments, including ongoing nuclear diplomacy with Iran, it said. Biden "underscored that no nation in the Middle East should enjoy a sphere of influence at the expense of its neighbors' sovereignty," it said. The two also discussed Lebanon's political situation, the statement said. They agreed on the need for Lebanese leaders to reach agreement, for the good of their country, to fill the current presidential vacancy, it said.
Biden "recognized the immense humanitarian challenge confronting Lebanon and all of Syria's neighbors," and Hariri "expressed his gratitude for U.S. humanitarian support for Syrian refugees in Lebanon," the statement said.
Hariri, during his current visit to the US, has also met with the National Security Adviser Susan Rice who expressed the Obama Administration's "strong commitment" to Lebanon's security and sovereignty," the White House said in a statement. Rice and Al-Hariri discussed "a wide range of regional issues," and she "commended the performance of the state institutions, the Lebanese Armed Forces and Internal Security Forces, and reiterated our further support to enhance their capabilities," the statement added. Rice further "stressed the need for all Lebanese parties to implement the policy of dissociation, and to support the full implementation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions on Lebanon." On Syria, the two officials "agreed on the importance of reaching a genuine political solution [and] increasing international attention and assistance to help Lebanon shoulder the challenge of hosting nearly 1.2 million Syrian refugees," the statement said. Echoing Secretary of State John Kerry's comments Wednesday, Rice urged the parliament in Beirut to "move forward to elect a president of the Lebanese Republic in accordance with the constitution," the White House affirmed. (end) ys.rm.rk