Shorter Sees 'Real Opportunity for Reawakening of Political institutions'

British Ambassador to Lebanon Hugo Shorter on Monday announced that “there is a real opportunity for the reawakening of political institutions” in Lebanon, in a blog titled “To 365 Days of Independence”.

“It is particularly heartening to see a ‘made in Lebanon’ President, which the international community has been calling for. It’s clear to me that the President was elected thanks to local initiatives and without foreign direction,” Shorter said.

“With the election of President Aoun, and the energetic action of Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri, there is a real opportunity for the reawakening of political institutions. Long may that new-found spirit of compromise continue, on all sides!,” the ambassador urged.

He noted that reactivating the state “will build confidence that the economy will pick up, as necessary government decisions are taken on fiscal sustainability, business climate and urgent infrastructure.”

“An active government presents the opportunity for Lebanon to attract further support from the international community,” Shorter pointed out.

He also said that the international community hopes that "U.N. Security Council Resolutions and the Baabda declaration will be respected” during the new presidential tenure.

“Only the state can legitimately represent, defend and protect all Lebanese,” Shorter stressed.

Aoun's election after two and a half years of presidential void and Hariri's appointment as premier-designate have raised hopes that Lebanon can begin tackling challenges including a stagnant economy, a moribund political class and the influx of more than a million Syrian refugees.

In addition to pledges of economic growth and security, Aoun said in his oath of office that Lebanon must work to ensure Syrian refugees "can return quickly" to their country.

Aoun also pledged to endorse an "independent foreign policy" and to protect Lebanon from "the fires burning across the region."