Statement to Lebanon Press Corps
Randall L. Tobias, Director of U.S. Foreign Assistance and USAID Administrator
Grand Serail
Beirut, Lebanon
October 27, 2006
I want to begin by thanking Minister of Economy and Trade Sami Haddad, Minister of Finance Jihad Azour, Prime Minister
Siniora's Special Assistant, Ambassador Mohammad Chatah, and the Lebanese people for welcoming me to Beirut.
I have been looking forward to this trip for some time. I met with Prime Minister Siniora in Stockholm, during the
Donors' Conference for Lebanon's Early Recovery. At that conference, the United States urged donors to ensure that our
pledges amounted to more than just words. In this visit, I have had the opportunity to see that our early commitment has
indeed translated into immediate action.
I have been deeply encouraged by Lebanon's commitment to rapid recovery and economic growth and I would like to assure
the Lebanese people that the American people are completely behind you. Yesterday, I visited Byblos and I saw first-hand
that-working in partnership with the Government of Lebanon-we are making progress in cleaning up the oil spill along the
coast and improving the livelihoods of the communities who live there. Through other projects I have visited, the U.S.
Government is supporting Lebanon's efforts to strengthen the economy by addressing job creation and income generation in
rural areas. I met local farmers using a jointly supported agricultural center to improve their products and market
them, not only locally within Lebanon, but globally. Our partnership has provided these farmers an opportunity to
compete in a marketplace inaccessible not long ago.
I also visited beneficiaries of our microfinance program. With these programs, we are helping Lebanese entrepreneurs
realize their economic aspirations. In doing so, we are partnering with the Lebanese people to expand economic
opportunities for all, in a way that is sustainable and supportive of their entrepreneurial spirit.
The $230 million committed by President Bush in August has a very clear and important purpose-to help the Lebanese
people rebuild their lives and communities after this summer's tragic conflict. I'm pleased that $90 million has already
been disbursed to meet basic humanitarian needs and to assist the Lebanese people in the early stages of recovery. In
addition to supporting the clean-up effort vital to getting Lebanon's tourism industry back on track, these funds have
provided new playgrounds for children in the south, cash for students harvesting apples in the north, and support for
fishermen and their families along the coast. Later today, I will tour some of the damaged infrastructure-such as the
Mudairej Bridge-the United States will help rebuild as reconstruction efforts continue.
The strong commitment of the United States to the people of Lebanon is embodied in the partnership between the
governments of our two diverse and democratic countries. I appreciate the opportunity to discuss with Ministers Haddad
and Azour and Ambassador Chatah their views on how our governments might best partner in support of the Lebanese people.
After all, supporting the mutual aspirations of people around the world for lasting peace and prosperity is precisely
what U.S. foreign assistance is all about. In fact, Lebanon is the second stop on a four-country tour to ensure that our
foreign assistance is being delivered in a way that is coordinated, effective and achieving its strategic goals. Having
come from South Africa, I will travel to Egypt and Thailand after completing my consultations here.
Again, I thank the Ministers, Ambassador Chatah and the people of Lebanon for their hospitality. The United States looks
forward to working in partnership with them as they realize their vision of a peaceful and prosperous Lebanon with
opportunities for all its citizens.
ENDS