Mikati wraps up visit to S. Africa, receives international support in Syrian refugee issue

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati wrapped up his visit to South Africa on Wednesday, where he had represented Lebanon in the memorial held for late former President Nelson Mandela.

On the sidelines of the memorial held in Johannesburg, Mikati met with US President Barak Obama, French President Francois Hollande, the Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, British Prime Minister David Cameron, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Italian PM Enrico Letta.

The foreign leaders expressed their keenness on Lebanon’s stability and their readiness to support the Lebanese government in bearing the burden imposed by the issue of the Syrian refugees.

In this context, Mikati also held a meeting with UN officials, where he discussed the educational situation in Lebanon and the repercussions of the Syrian displacement into Lebanon.

On another note, the Lebanese PM visited the new headquarters of the Lebanese Embassy in South Africa and was briefed on the situation of the Lebanese nationals residing in the African country.