Pelosi Remarks Before Meeting with Prime Minister Saad Hariri of Lebanon

WASHINGTON, May 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Congressman Nick Rahall, Chair of the Lebanese Caucus, held a brief press availability this morning with Prime Minister Saad Hariri of Lebanon prior to their meeting in the Capitol.  Below is a transcript of the press availability:

Speaker Pelosi. Good morning.  It is an honor to welcome Prime Minister Hariri to the Capitol, to welcome him once again.  He has been to the Capitol as a student, he has been to the Capitol as a leader, and now as the Prime Minister of Lebanon. 

The President has stated and the Congress agrees that the United States supports Prime Minister Hariri's drive to realize the vision of his father—a sovereign independent Lebanon with strong democratic institutions, free to determine its own destiny.  The United States believes in helping the Prime Minister make his own mark for the people of Lebanon as they accomplish these goals.  We will continue to stand with them in the pursuit of peace and pluralism and a future of safety, security, and stability for their children. 

We will work with Prime Minister Hariri and all of Lebanon's leaders on the challenges facing the country and the region—promoting peace between Israel, Lebanon and their neighbors, ensuring that Lebanon's political system and its people are not in danger by the forces of violence and terrorism, implementing the principles of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls for a permanent ceasefire between Hizballah and Israel, and Lebanon's full rights as a sovereign nation free of foreign interference. 

The Prime Minister's visit has added significance because Lebanon holds the presidency of the Security Council this month.  I look forward to discussing our global effort to counter proliferation, defeat terrorism, and improve international security and regional stability. 

Prime Minister Hariri, as I said at the start, is no stranger to Washington, D.C.  He graduated from Georgetown University, and I am pleased to welcome with my colleague Chairman Nick Rahall, chair of the Natural Resources Committee.  Chairman Rahall has been, I think, Lebanon's best friend in the Congress of the United States.  And not only that, he has attracted many more friends—teaching us all the importance of the U.S.-Lebanon relationship.

Mr. Rahall, would you like to add some words of welcome to the Prime Minister?   

Chairman Rahall.  Thank you, Madam Speaker.  It is indeed my honor as Chair of the Lebanese Caucus in the Congress, to welcome the Prime Minister to Washington.  He is a courageous leader for his country, following in his father's footsteps.  He has especially taken some courageous moves to engage the people and the countries of the region. 

So, I join with the Speaker and our many colleagues in the Congress, who are friends of Lebanon, in welcoming the Prime Minister to Washington today.

Speaker Pelosi.  Mr. Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Hariri.  Thank you.  I'm happy to be here with Madam Speaker, the Honorable Nancy Pelosi, on Capitol Hill, which is one of the greatest symbols of democracy in the world.  I am confident that we will have a constructive and positive dialogue about the relationship that binds our two countries.  And I also look forward to discussing regional issues of mutual concern for Lebanon and the United States. 

I believe — like you said — I came here when I was a student, I came here when I was a Member of Parliament, and today I come here in my capacity as Prime Minister.   And I want to thank you for this opportunity and congratulate you also on the health care bill that you have historically passed and the achievement that you have done.  I think Lebanon holds many common principles with the United States of America — our democracy, our freedom, our freedom of speech, and our independence.  And our belief in human rights.  We believe that those principles are worth fighting for and believing in, and those principles that we stood by all along.  My father maybe paid his life for those principles.  I will continue in the same venue as my father and continue his legacy, and I hope that our two countries work together and on all issues that are important for the region.

Thank you.

 Speaker Pelosi.  Thank you Mr. Prime Minister.  Welcome. 

SOURCE Office of the Speaker of the House