Lebanese Minister of Defense Sees Secretary Gates, Secretary Clinton, Special Envoy Mitchell

April 13, 2009

Elias El-Murr, the Lebanese Minister of Defense, visited the United States April 5-10 as a guest of the U.S. Department of Defense. 

While in Washington, Minister El-Murr met with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Special Envoy for Middle East Peace George Mitchell, Special Advisor for the Gulf and Southwest Asia Dennis Ross, and Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism John Brennan.   The Minister also met with U.S. Central Commander General David Petraeus and Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey D. Feltman and Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Frank Ruggiero.

U.S. officials discussed continued U.S. support to the LAF to help it maintain internal security, fight terrorism, secure Lebanon’s borders, and implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701.  Support for the LAF remains a pillar of United States' policy towards Lebanon.  The LAF has an important role to play in performing counterterrorism and border security operations, which will help extend government control over Lebanese territory. 

Minister Murr’s visit emphasizes the solid and enduring bilateral relationship between the United States and Lebanon.