Westerwelle arrives in Lebanon for talks with top leaders

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle arrived in Lebanon for a two-day visit Thursday to discuss with officials and politicians the negative repercussions of Syrian unrest on the country and recent developments in the region. Westerwelle was welcomed at Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport by the Lebanese Foreign Affairs Ministry’s representative, Hasan Abbas, and Germany’s envoy to Lebanon Birgitta Siefker-Eberle. Westerwelle met with President Michel Sleiman at Baabda Palace where they discussed bilateral relations and Germany’s peacekeeping mission in south Lebanon. Following his meeting with Sleiman, Westerwelle reiterated Germany’s commitment to the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon. “Germany and Lebanon are friendly countries and we want to continue our [good] cooperation,” said Westerwelle. For his part, Sleiman thanked Westerwelle for Germany’s political and economic support for Lebanon. Westerwelle later met with the Future Movement leader Fouad Siniora at former Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s Downtown Beirut residence and discussed recent developments in the region. He also met Speaker Nabih Berri at Ain Al-Tineh, and will meet with Prime Minister Najib Mikati at the Grand Serail Friday.