Mikati from Congo urges expatriates to partake in elections

 
Prime Minister Najib Mikati arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo Friday to head Lebanon's delegation to the Francophone summit scheduled to begin Saturday.               

The Francophone Summit serves as a chance for leaders of French-speaking countries and others to convene and confer over pressing political issues.             

Mikati led a delegation that included deputy premier Samir Mouqbel, Interior Minister Marwan Charbel, Health Minister Ali Hasan Khalil, Economy Minister Nicholas Nahhas and Culture Minister Gaby Layyoun.       
         

Mikati met Friday with Lebanese expatriates in Congo during a dinner feast, and urged them to participate in upcoming parliamentary elections, while promising them that he planned to maintain close ties between them and their mother-land.               


"Lebanon must be present and a pioneer in all international forums particularly that it is one of the Francophone founders," the PM said.                        

"Since I have taken office, I set a basic mission for myself, which is to preserve the unity of Lebanon," Mikati explained further that he would personally follow up on all demands of expatriates in all African countries.            
      

Health Minister, Ali Hassan Khalil, also spoke during said dinner, asserting how proud Lebanon was of all its expatriates and reassuring the Lebanese community in Congo that despite turbulent times, their homeland sustained dialogue among different factions.