[Al Arabiya Latest] Washington will evaluate its assistance to Lebanon based on policies of the new government to be formed after the June 7 parliamentary vote, United States Vice President Joe Biden said Friday."The U.S. will evaluate the shape of its assistance program based on the policies of the new government," Biden told reporters after meeting President Michel Suleiman on his first visit to the Middle East since taking office.
The June 7 vote will put the current U.S.-backed majority in parliament against a Hezbollah-led coalition backed by Syria and Iran.
Analysts say Hezbollah and its allies stand a good chance of winning the vote.
Biden said his visit to Lebanon, the first by a U.S. vice president in nearly three decades, was not aimed at interfering in the country's internal politics.
"I did not come here to back any party," Biden said.
"I urge those who think about standing with the spoilers of peace not to miss this opportunity to walk away," he added however, in an apparent reference to supporters of Hezbollah, considered a terrorist organization by Washington.
"It's not an accident that the president (Barack Obama) asked me to come to Lebanon to personally demonstrate to you (that) our commitment to Lebanon is meaningful and it's real," he said.