Hollande meets with Mikati, stresses France's support for Lebanon

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati continued on Wednesday his meetings with international officials on the margins of his participation in the UN General Assembly’s session held in New York. In this context he met with French President Francois Hollande who stressed that France is committed to maintain Lebanon’s sovereignty and independence, and will keep on supporting it through the role played by the French force operating with the international forces in South Lebanon.                 

Delegations accompanying both officials also participated in the meeting, where Hollande said that he takes into consideration the difficult stage through which Lebanon is passing and the efforts deployed by PM Mikati to maintain Lebanon’s stability. He added that they agreed on holding another meeting in Paris soon.            

On the other hand, the Lebanese-Palestinian relations were the core of the discussions held during the meeting between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Mikati, who met as well with Jordanian King Abdullah II.         

The Lebanese PM tackled the relations between Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates with UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan. Mikati then met the invitation of Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani to dinner at the latter’s residence in New York.

Mikati meets with Clinton:

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati has relayed the agreement made between various Lebanese parties to maintain stability in Lebanon to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

During a bilateral meeting with Clinton on the sidelines of the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York, Mikati pointed out that the "Baabda Declaration" which was released in the wake of national dialogue session, stresses the importance of the international community's understanding of the Lebanese position which relatively remains untouched by surrounding incidents. He also stressed on the importance of boosting aid to the Lebanese army and support at all levels in order to enable it to carry out tasks. The Lebanese Premiere reaffirmed the commitment of Lebanon to international resolutions, calling to intensify pressure on Israel to stop its daily violations against Lebanon's sovereignty.                

For her part, Clinton praised the efforts exerted by the Lebanese government in maintaining stability and for enforcing the law. She also lauded the Lebanese army for its role in maintain peace.                      

On the issue of displaced Syrians in Lebanon, Clinton thanked the government's assistance lauding the effective coordination between it and the United Nations. Clinton also urged the Lebanese government to speed up the solution of the conflict regarding Lebanese maritime borders as a predecessor to investing in its natural resources.                   

Prior to his private meeting with Clinton Mikati held a lengthy, thorough meeting the U.S. Secretary of State  attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Adnan Mansour, Ambassador of Lebanon to the United States Antoine Shedid, Head of the Mission of Lebanon to the United Nations, Ambassador Nawaf Salam and adviser to President Mikati Joe Issa Khoury.