[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book I)]
[January 29, 2007]
[Page 74]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on the Situation in Lebanon
January 29, 2007

    I am deeply disappointed by the recent violence and bloodshed on the 
streets of Lebanon. It is all the more troubling that the violence 
occurred while Lebanon's legitimate leaders and friends were gathered 
together in Paris to help secure a peaceful and prosperous future for 
the country. Lebanon's friends have pledged a total of $7.6 billion at 
the International Conference on Support for Lebanon. I will ask Congress 
for $770 million to contribute to this cause. With this pledge, total 
U.S. support for Lebanon since last summer's conflict, including the 
$230 million pledged at the Stockholm Conference last August, will equal 
approximately $1 billion. This is a strong symbol of the American 
people's support for and commitment to the future of Lebanon.
    All those who seek a peaceful, constitutional solution to the crisis 
in Lebanon deserve the support of the international community, but those 
responsible for creating chaos must be called to account. While 
Lebanon's friends seek to help the Lebanese Government build a free, 
sovereign, and prosperous country, Syria, Iran, and Hizballah are 
working to destabilize Lebanese society. Their goals are clear: They 
foment violence in order to prevent the establishment of a special 
tribunal in response to former Prime Minister Hariri's assassination, to 
prevent full implementation of U.N. Security Council resolutions calling 
for Hizballah's disarmament, and to bring down Lebanon's democratically 
elected Government, in violation of its Constitution. The United States 
will continue to support Lebanon's Government as it seeks a peaceful and 
prosperous future for all the people of Lebanon.