US Ambassador meets with Interior Minister Charbel

             
U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly met with Minister of Interior and Municipalities Marwan Charbel today.  The Ambassador and Minister Charbel discussed bilateral relations as well as the political and security situation in Lebanon and regional events.  They also discussed U.S. support for training and equipping the Internal Security Forces.  She also conveyed the United States’ condolence for the death of an ISF officer in a traffic accident yesterday.                 

In her meeting, the Ambassador welcomed efforts by the Ministry to prepare for parliamentary elections, and she encouraged Lebanon to uphold its democratic and constitutional principles and hold elections on time.  She praised the efforts of the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Internal Security Forces in working with political leaders to maintain peace and stability.                  

The Ambassador also discussed a new five-year $27.1 million program from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to promote innovation in public service among municipalities, groups of municipalities, and municipal unions.  The program, named Building Alliance for Local Advancement, Development, and Investment (BALADI), provides in-kind grants on an annual basis for projects that meet citizens’ needs and bring citizens and their local governments to work together to meet those goals and promote local economic growth and development.  The program officially launches on February 18 and additional information can be found at www.baladi-lebanon.org.