President Barack Obama said in a message for Lebanon Friday that the United States regrets that this anniversary day passes without an elected president, "an important but missing symbol of the unity of the nation and a key factor in promoting Lebanese sovereignty and stability."
In a message to the Lebanese people, Obama said the United States strongly supports Lebanon's founding principles of sovereignty and independence, and the exercise of freedoms for all.
He also noted that the election of a president must be a Lebanese decision only; however, emphasized that this decision must be taken soon for the sake of the Lebanese people.
Obama also said in his message that US is proud of its strong relations with the Lebanese people.
"We are proud of our longstanding relationship with the Lebanese Armed Forces, and the Internal Security Forces, and of our contributions to the development of these state institutions, which alone have the legitimacy and responsibility to defend Lebanon's borders and safeguard its citizens, and are accountable to all Lebanese."
In this regard, Obama stressed that the US will continue to stand with the Lebanese people in the face of the threat extremists pose to their country and to the world.