During a farewell lunch in her honor, U.S Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly voiced concern over the current political impasse battering the country, saying it "has compromised the institutions of the state, primarily to serve the interests of Hezbollah and its Iranian sponsor."
"I am afraid this trend will lead Lebanon down a dangerous path. Hezbollah has repeatedly demonstrated its contempt for international norms of behavior, which most recently resulted in the EU designation. But Hezbollah is also now showing contempt for the Lebanese rules of the game," she said.
Connelly noted that Hezbollah's violation of the Baabda Declaration undermines the Lebanese state and risks moving Lebanon from having to contend with spillover effects from Syria to outright involvement in a wider Syrian conflict.
Connelly hoped that the Lebanese people "who seek to preserve this country’s fragile balance of interests will act decisively to protect Lebanon".
"One first step is to insist on the formation of a respectable, competent government. Another step is to get to work on an acceptable electoral law that allows for elections as soon as is practical," she stressed.
"Lebanese democracy needs to be restored to ensure that Lebanese business - the lifeblood of Lebanon - can continue to work its magic and keep this country strong," she concluded.
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