Digital Broadcasters Vendor News says people in the business world
want to know where Lebanon is going?
US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice gave an exclusive interview
with Marcel Ghanem of Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation on January
25, 2007. (LBC is generally supportive of the present government.)
Make up your mind if Lebanon will continue to be a good place for
those in the digital media arena after you read the following.
The interview, which took place in Paris is taken from the US State
Department web site.
January 25, 2007
Marcel Ghanem, LBC: Dr. Rice, good afternoon and thank you for
joining us in this exclusive interview. Do you think that the support
provided to Lebanon is a kind of delay to avoid the collapse of
Lebanon until a final settlement of its internal crisis is reached?
SECRETARY RICE: I think that the show of support today for Lebanon is
a show of support for the democratic process in Lebanon, for the
reform process and for the people of Lebanon. Every speaker spoke
about the tremendous burdens that have been put on Lebanon by the
tragedy this summer coming out of the war, but also by the political
crisis. But this is a show of support because people believe in
Lebanon's future.
Marcel Ghanem, LBC: Yes, but the Lebanese opposition scored a point
before yesterday. They (inaudible) be canceled. How do you deal with
this?
SECRETARY RICE: Well, you look at the difference of people burning
tires to keep people from going to work, and today an expression that
the public sector -- private sector ought to be providing jobs for
Lebanese people, ought to be providing housing for Lebanese people.
That's where the leadership is, in providing for the needs of people,
not somehow burning tires so they can't go to work.
And so I would hope that the Lebanese people understand that this
conference is for all Lebanese. Prime Minister Siniora made very
clear that he is here representing all of Lebanon and that the money
that is pledged here will be used to help the poorest in Lebanon and
also to help Lebanon's economy develop.
Marcel Ghanem, LBC: Dr. Rice, is Lebanon at the brink of a new civil
war?
SECRETARY RICE: Lebanese people do not want to have a violent
confrontation. That is very clear. There are those, I think, who
would like to see violence in Lebanon.
Marcel Ghanem, LBC: Like?
SECRETARY RICE: But -- well, perhaps those from the outside that
don't want to see a successful Lebanon, or those from the outside who
after years of intimidation of the Lebanese people, of occupation of
Lebanese country -- of the Lebanese country, do not really want to
see Lebanon independent and sovereign.
But the Lebanese people want to live in peace. They want to live in
economic prosperity. And I hope that all political elements will
really represent now the desires of the Lebanese people. You have a
democratically elected government. That government should be allowed
to govern and it should be allowed to move forward with this kind of
strong international support.
Marcel Ghanem, LBC: But what is the role of Syria and Iran?
SECRETARY RICE: Well, I don't think that the role of Syria and Iran
has frankly been very constructive. In fact, Syria, which is a
neighbor of Lebanon and there should be no problem with it, will not
even recognize Lebanon to send an ambassador to Lebanon, as you
should do with any neighboring state, because Syria appears not to
want to recognize the full sovereignty of Lebanon. But the
international community represents and recognizes the full
sovereignty of Lebanon. Resolution 1701, which ended the conflict
this summer, is precisely to help Lebanon extend its sovereignty
throughout the country, and that is going to continue to be the goal
of the international community.
Marcel Ghanem, LBC: But also, as you know, Dr. Rice, Hezbollah
doesn't seem to be willing to give up its weapons. No one seems to
have the will nor capacity to disarm Hezbollah. How do you see a
potential solution for this problem, like a new UN resolution under
Chapter 7?
SECRETARY RICE: Well, there is already a UN resolution, first 1559
and then 1701, because ultimately all arms need to be in the hands of
the Lebanese Government and the Lebanese security forces, which are
being reformed, which are being supported. The United States and
Europe are supporting the reform of the Lebanese armed forces. No
democracy can exist with militias that operate outside of the
governmental process. We saw the problem with that this summer when
Hezbollah, as a state within a state, launched an attack across an
international line.
But it's going to have to be a Lebanese process that comes to terms
with this issue. What we are doing right now is to support Lebanon,
support the Lebanese people. The United States pledged today $770
million to support Lebanon. The world is pledging funding. But it's
more than funding. People are pledging political support, and Lebanon
will have the international community as a friend.
Marcel Ghanem, LBC: Dr. Rice, the stability in Lebanon is based on
the region and balance of power. Don't you think that a dialogue with
Syria and Iran is a must, especially after the deal between Iran and
Saudi Arabia?
SECRETARY RICE: Well, I think that it's fine for people to have
regional dialogues if they see fit. From our point of view, we have
given an opportunity to Iran for dialogue. I was prepared to change
27 years of policy and to talk with my Iranian counterpart if they
will just abandon their path toward a nuclear weapon.
With Syria, we've -- the United States has diplomatic relations with
Syria. We've talked and talked and talked. But this isn't about talk.
This is about action. And if Iran and Syria adopt policies that are,
in fact, stabilizing to the region rather than destabilizing, rather
than destabilizing to Lebanon, destabilizing to the Palestinian
territories, destabilizing to Iraq, then they can be helpful in the
international community. But they know how to do that. They don't
need to tell me -- have me tell them.
Marcel Ghanem, LBC: Okay. But is there still room for compromise with
the current regime in Syria?
SECRETARY RICE: We want the regime to change its behavior in Syria
and we've made that very, very clear. But again, this is not
difficult. They know what to do. They simply need to do it.
Marcel Ghanem, LBC: Does any potential agreement between Iran and
Saudi Arabia to settle the Lebanese crisis have a chance to last and
will Washington approve it? And what if Syria is not involved in such
agreement?
SECRETARY RICE: Well, from my point of view, this is for the Lebanese
to decide. If regional powers can help them, that's fine. But Lebanon
has to be in agreement. The Lebanese Government, the democratically
elected Lebanese Government, has to be in agreement with how to
resolve this crisis.
I would hope that the Arab initiative, Arab League initiative that
Amr Moussa has been talking about, that other regional efforts will
carry forward. But they must respect the democratic choices that
Lebanese people made in their elections more than a year ago and they
must respect the international community's demand that there be a
tribunal so that those who have perpetrated horrible crimes,
including the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri,
can be brought to justice.
Marcel Ghanem, LBC: Last question, Dr. Rice. How would the U.S. deal
with the potential presidential vacancy, especially that the
conditions to conduct elections could not be met in September?
SECRETARY RICE: Well, I simply hope that the conditions will be met
and that Lebanon can elect a president that is a part of its future.
It's an important position and it needs to be a part of Lebanon's
future.
But I have some confidence in the Lebanese people to resolve these
differences among them. If foreign powers will stay out, if those who
are a part of the process will not resort to intimidation or to
violence, if people will find a way to bring about their differences
-- to reconcile their differences peacefully, I have great confidence
in the Lebanese Government and in the government of Prime Minister
Siniora to overcome this crisis. And I think the response today of
the international community suggests that the international community
also has confidence in Lebanon.
Marcel Ghanem, LBC: Thank you, Dr. Rice, for granting us this
exclusive interview.
SECRETARY RICE: Thank you.
Marcel Ghanem, LBC: Thank you very much.
http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2007/79387.htm
This report is presented here in Digital Broadcasters Vendor News as
a service of this website.
