by Salah Takieddine
BEIRUT, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who arrived Thursday in Lebanon on a one-day visit, said that "the people of Lebanon should also be concerned about how Hezbollah's actions."
Tillerson met upon his arrival with Lebanon's President Michel Aoun and discussed Lebanon's gas and border dispute with Israel.
Tillerson left the meeting with Aoun without making a statement, but he signed the visitors' guest book at the Baabda Presidential Palace, marking his first official visit to Lebanon.
He later held talks with Speaker Nabih Berri at Ain el-Tineh.
The U.S. embassy said on its Twitter page that Tillerson "reaffirmed to Berri the importance of the close U.S.-Lebanese partnership as the two countries work together to pursue common goals that advance Lebanon's sovereignty, stability, and prosperity."
Ending his official meetings, Tillerson met with Prime Minister Saad Hariri at the Grand Serail and held following a luncheon given by Hariri in his honor, a joint press conference with the PM.
Tillerson said that his government is engaged with the Israeli government to make sure that the situation on the Lebanese southern border remain calm.
He said "Lebanon has been under enormous pressure. We are engaging with both governments of Lebanon and Israel to ensure Lebanon's southern border remains calm. And we remain committed to helping Lebanon and the Lebanese people to prosper through the development of their natural resources in agreement with all their neighbors. If an agreement can be reached it truly has the ability to help Lebanon and the neighboring countries prosper now and years to come."
Israel has recently escalated its threats over Lebanon's invitation for offshore gas exploration bids along the countries' maritime border.
Israel claimed that Lebanon will be drilling in areas owned by Israel. Lebanese officials contested those claims, saying the area where it plans to drill belongs to Lebanon.
The long-standing dispute resurfaced recently as Lebanon invited companies to sign exploration deals. U.S. officials have previously tried to mediate the dispute.
Addressing Hezbollah's issue, the U.S. official reaffirmed his country's position that the resistance party is a terrorist organization.
He said "it is impossible to talk about stability, sovereignty and security of Lebanon without addressing Hezbollah. The United States has considered Hezbollah a terrorist organization for more than two decades now. We neither see nor do accept any distinction between his political and his military arms. It is unacceptable for militias like Hezbollah to operate outside the authority of the Lebanese government. The only legitimate defender of the Lebanese state is the Lebanese armed forces."
He cautioned that the Lebanese should worry about the repercussion of Hezbollah's actions.
He explained "Hezbollah is not just a concern for the United States, the people of Lebanon should also be concerned about how Hezbollah's actions, its growing arsenal, bring unwanted and unhelpful scrutiny on Lebanon. Hezbollah entanglement in regional conflicts threatens the security of Lebanon and has destabilizing effects on the region."
Tillerson left Lebanon immediately following his press conference.
