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“UNITED STATES MUST SUPPORT A SOVEREIGN LEBANON” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the Senate section on pages S4090 on April 24, 1996.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
UNITED STATES MUST SUPPORT A SOVEREIGN LEBANON
Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to express my strong support for the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of the country of Lebanon. As you know, Mr. President, Lebanon has again been the most recent victim of the fighting in the Middle East. The hostilities of last week which continue today have caused a great loss of Lebanese lives.
The United States has always supported the independence and territorial integrity of Lebanon. However, in the most recent negotiations to end the fighting in the region, the U.S. administration has been focusing its efforts on Syria and Israel.
I believe that the State Department is sincere in upholding it support for the sovereignty of Lebanon. But I am afraid that the United States views a resolution to the Israel-Syria conflict as the only priority--and the consequence is the plight of the civilian population in Lebanon is ignored. It is Lebanon that is suffering the most in this conflict, and it is with that country which the United States should focus its immediate attention.
The influence and support of the United States is critical to giving Lebanon the help it needs to move forward and rebuild after two decades of civil war.
As its stands, the presence of all foreign forces in Lebanon irritates the situation, making it difficult for the Lebanese to find a peaceful solution to their quest for independence and sovereignty. Only until there is the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Lebanon, combined with a diplomatic solution, will peace in the Middle East be achievable.
I believe that Lebanon will than be on its way to returning to the independent, sovereign and unoccupied land that it once was--free of all non-Lebanese forces. Not only will this advance the case of Middle East peace in the region, but it will also be in America's best interest to have its friend, Lebanon, stable once more.
Today, President Clinton is meeting with President Elias Hrawi of Lebanon. It is my hope that the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Lebanon is the subject of much discussion. President Clinton will also be announcing a humanitarian aid package for Lebanon, and I was pleased to lead the efforts in the Senate to insist upon this assistance for the innocent civilians of Lebanon.
But the humanitarian assistance is only one part of the equation. I, once again, urge the administration to persist in trying to negotiate a cease fire in this region and to bring an end to the hostility immediately.
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