NNA - Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Diplomacy Amos Hochstein visited Lebanon today and met with senior officials to discuss the economic situation in Lebanon and other regional energy issues.



Mr. Hochstein had meetings with President Michel Sleiman, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Nabih Berri, Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Caretaker Minister of Energy and Water Gebran Bassil, and business leaders in the oil and gas sector.



In his meetings, Mr. Hochstein commended the Lebanese government's efforts to date to launch their petroleum sector, which is of vital importance to their national economy.



He welcomed the continued work of the Government of Lebanon to establish the framework for Lebanon's oil and gas sector and encouraged the Ministry of Energy and Water's continued commitment to implement fair, transparent regulations to develop the energy sector in a way that promotes Lebanon's peace and prosperity and reiterated the United States' commitment to support in these efforts.



Mr. Hochstein further welcomed the successful start of the upcoming offshore bid round, which has attracted widespread interest from the international energy industry.
He renewed the United States' commitment to a stable, sovereign and independent Lebanon.


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