The head of the Lebanese Forces Party, Samir Geagea, sent a letter to the Vice President of the United States of America, Jay Dee Vance. It stated: “His Excellency the Vice President of the United States of America The Honorable Mr. Guy D. Vance, Greetings and then, I read with interest and appreciation your statement in which you expressed your affection and concern for the Christians of Lebanon, and I decided, in my capacity as head of the Lebanese Forces Party, the largest Christian party in Lebanon, to address this letter to you to express my sincere gratitude for your words, and for the sincere friendship and deep concern they reflect for the Christians of Lebanon, and by extension, for all Lebanese. Throughout Lebanon's modern history, Lebanese Christians have formed, and will continue to form, an element of stability, openness, moderation, and cultural and civilizational prosperity in this East. Thanks to its pluralism, public freedoms, open system, and cultural and economic role, Lebanon has a unique status that has made it a shining space in a turbulent environment. It is true that the past four decades were among the most difficult stages that the Lebanese people in general, and Christians in particular, have known, as a result of Hezbollah, as a military and security organization, confiscating the national decision, weakening the legitimate institutions, and preventing the establishment of an effective and capable state, in addition to plunging Lebanon into conflicts and wars linked to Iranian agendas that do not express the interests of the Lebanese or their aspirations. This had a negative impact on the Lebanese economy, reduced job opportunities, and pushed large numbers of Lebanese, including a significant percentage of Christians, to immigrate in search of safety, stability, and opportunities for a decent life. However, Christians, who have faced, throughout their long history, ancient and modern, more severe challenges and tribulations, have always been able to overcome them thanks to their adherence to their land, their belief in freedom, and their insistence on remaining in their homeland and preserving their national and cultural identity. Today, as yesterday, they are steadfast in their faith and convictions, steadfast in the face of challenges, and determined, along with the rest of the Lebanese, to restore their state, institutions, and full sovereignty, relying on the support of their friends in the East and West, first and foremost the United States of America. In this context, we believe that the greatest contribution that the United States of America can make to Lebanon at this critical stage is to support the Lebanese state and its legitimate institutions as the sole national reference, restrict any negotiation or approach to the Lebanese file to the Lebanese state alone, and completely remove Iran from the Lebanese file, in a way that helps the Lebanese to restore their national decision once and for all, and prevents the continuation of any external interference in their internal affairs. Also, supporting the current Lebanese state in extending its full authority over all its lands, restricting weapons to the hands of legitimate institutions alone, and ending the military and security presence of Hezbollah, constitute, in our view, the greatest contribution that can be made to the Christians of Lebanon and to all Lebanese, because it opens the door to building the state that we all aspire to: an actual state that is sovereign, free, strong, and capable of ensuring security, stability, and prosperity for all its citizens. Allow me, in conclusion, to renew to you, on my behalf and on behalf of a wide segment of the Lebanese, in general, and Christians in particular, who aspire to the establishment of an effective and capable state in their homeland, my deep gratitude and appreciation for the affection and concern you have shown toward the Christians of Lebanon, hoping that the United States of America will remain an essential partner in helping Lebanon restore its natural role as a model of freedom, pluralism, and peace in the Middle East. Please accept the utmost respect and appreciation.