(AFP, BEIRUT) - The United States has accepted an invitation from Lebanon to take part in a donor conference July 27 in Beirut to study a plan for re-building southern Lebanon following the Israeli withdrawal, the US ambassador David Satterfield said here.
He said he had passed on a message of acceptance to Lebanese Prime Minister Salim Hoss from US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.
"We accept this invitation. We look forward to cooperating with the government of Lebanon, with the international donor community, with the World Bank and with the UN in working for a well structured well co-ordinated programme which will (bring) the assistance which South Lebanon needs so much," said Satterfield.
"I assured the prime minister that in addition to our commitment to working within the context of the planning process now underway, we will also be working to identify emergency assistance for South Lebanon, using funds which are available now," he added.
"We hope to put this money in the south as rapidly as possible."
