Lebanese President Michel Sleiman asked his American counterpart Monday to pressure Israel into withdrawing from the Shebaa farms and Kfarshuba hills, appealing to Washington for military, economic, and security aid to Lebanon.

Speaking at a press conference with he held with US President Barack Obama at the White House, Sleiman said “I am pleased to meet with Obama as we both share openness.”

Sleiman added that Obama’s speech in Cairo, had revived hope to find solutions for the world’s causes.

The Lebanese President said he and Obama stressed their support to the Arab Peace Initiative, and that they had discussed the situation in Lebanon and the political, security, and economic developments, as well as the Israeli threats to the country.

Sleiman asked Obama to pressure Israel into implementing UN Security Council resolution 1701, as well as withdrawing from the Shebaa farms and the Kfarshuba hills.

The two leaders also touched on bilateral relations between Lebanon and the US. Sleiman noted that Lebanon and Washington share a Lebanese-American community, as well as values such as democracy, and rejecting discrimination.

Sleiman appealed to the US for military, economic, and security support to Lebanon, noting that this aid would help Lebanon fight terrorism and defend itself against the enemy.

The two sides also discussed Lebanon’s nonpermanent membership in the UN security council and agreed to cooperate in the issues that matter to the world.

H.C.