BEIRUT: U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon David Hale criticized Parliament's decision to extend its mandate Wednesday.
In a statement issued by his news office, Hale expressed regret over “a decision taken earlier today to postpone parliamentary elections and extend the term of the current Parliament again.”
Hale also met with Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdel-Latif Derian earlier Wednesday to discuss the paralysis of Lebanon’s political institutions and the threat posed by extremist groups like ISIS and The Nusra Front.
Parliament voted Wednesday to extend its mandate for an additional two years and seven months.Wednesday's decision marked the second time lawmakers have voted to extend their mandate, the same vote was taken on May 2013.
The ambassador called on Parliament to elect a president as soon as possible, in accordance with the Constitution and the National Pact, while also urging Lebanese leaders to hold parliamentary elections as soon as possible.
Condemning the presidential void resulting from the failure to elect a president last May, Hale stressed that “extremists were bred in chaos and they thrive in chaos.” The best way to counter this chaos was through unity, he said.
“Every day that goes by with the presidency vacant is another day when Lebanon is deprived of this important symbol of national unity,” read the statement.
Touching on the issue of terrorism, the ambassador said that the fight against ISIS must take place on the battleground of ideas. “This fight cannot be won by military weapons,” he said.
Hale called for a counter message to stand in the way of the “barbaric messages” being spread by ISIS online. This counter message must deny the validity extremism and violence, he said, while noting that “no one has embodied this moderation better than the Grand Mufti.”
Moderates, according the ambassador, have “strength on their side” when facing ISIS because their “values are stronger than those of any extremist,” he said, referring to Derian.
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