US Deputy Envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus spoke before the official Lebanese delegation at the Lebanese Embassy in Washington, stating:
“It is rare to find leaders with courage, and I can say that I have found in President Joseph Aoun a leader who has courage and wants to make the tough decisions to change his country.”
She added, “I have always spoken about how the Lebanese diaspora in the United States and around the world is among the most successful in terms of education and culture. I know that our goals, whether here in the United States or in Lebanon, are the same. Our aim is not only to reform Lebanon but to revive it. I don’t want to go back to the pre-1975 era or the so-called golden days people talk about; I want to look toward a brighter and better future for Lebanon because I know Lebanon has that potential.”
Ortagus stressed that “Lebanon won’t get there without tough decisions, and for that you need brave leaders like the President, the Prime Minister, and many of the figures standing with me here who are willing to make tough reform decisions, restore the economy and the country, and ensure that the state holds the exclusive right to arms and provides services.”
She concluded, “I believe we are entering a new phase in Lebanon—its best phase yet—and if you decide to take that step and make those difficult decisions, I promise you that President Trump’s administration and the United States will stand by you. But we cannot go backward.”
“It is rare to find leaders with courage, and I can say that I have found in President Joseph Aoun a leader who has courage and wants to make the tough decisions to change his country.”
She added, “I have always spoken about how the Lebanese diaspora in the United States and around the world is among the most successful in terms of education and culture. I know that our goals, whether here in the United States or in Lebanon, are the same. Our aim is not only to reform Lebanon but to revive it. I don’t want to go back to the pre-1975 era or the so-called golden days people talk about; I want to look toward a brighter and better future for Lebanon because I know Lebanon has that potential.”
Ortagus stressed that “Lebanon won’t get there without tough decisions, and for that you need brave leaders like the President, the Prime Minister, and many of the figures standing with me here who are willing to make tough reform decisions, restore the economy and the country, and ensure that the state holds the exclusive right to arms and provides services.”
She concluded, “I believe we are entering a new phase in Lebanon—its best phase yet—and if you decide to take that step and make those difficult decisions, I promise you that President Trump’s administration and the United States will stand by you. But we cannot go backward.”
