BEIRUT: U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon David Hale said his country wanted to help Lebanon transform into an oil and gas producing country and assist in resolving its territorial dispute with Israel.
“I ... reiterate that the United States remains committed to supporting Lebanon’s efforts to make the transformation to an oil and gas producing country,” Hale said after meeting with Speaker Nabih Berri, according to an embassy statement.
Berri used the meeting to raise his complaints over Israel siphoning off Lebanon’s oil, the National News Agency said in a separate statement.
Hale responded by pledging to follow up on the matter, saying the U.S. official responsible for the matter would return to the region soon and deal with the dispute.
The envoy said his country had always been willing to listen to the opinions of Lebanon’s officials on the issue, and that the decision on how to use the natural resources remains that of the Lebanese.
He said the U.S. aspires to help resolve the oil dispute by offering proposals to both the Lebanese and Israeli sides, as long as they both wish to find a solution.
Hale explained that he had met with former President Michel Sleiman and Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun earlier in the day, as well as Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea Monday.
He said the meetings were to listen “carefully to their views and analysis, and asked how the United States could be of most help.”
“The Lebanese, alone, can, should, and must elect a president, urgently,” Hale said. “Doing so, of course, alone, won’t solve all of the many problems challenging this country; but it will enable Lebanon to face those challenges in accordance with the Constitution and the National Pact.”
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