Davutoglu Discusses with Lebanese Officials Bilateral Ties, Regional Developments

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu discussed with Lebanese officials on Saturday bilateral ties and regional developments.

Davutoglu arrived at Beirut airport on Saturday morning and headed to Baabda palace for talks with President Michel Suleiman.

A statement issued by Suleiman’s press office said Davutoglu described Turkish-Lebanese ties as “excellent” and stressed Ankara’s rejection to shove Lebanon into the regional turmoil.

He later went to Ain el-Tineh and met with Speaker Nabih Berri.

Following his talks with the speaker, the Turkish FM met with Premier Najib Miqati at the Grand Serail.

“The Arab Spring began from Lebanon,” he stated after talks with Miqati.

Davutoglu stressed that “stability in Lebanon is important as it is the base of stability in the region.”

“We hope that the other countries take Lebanon as an example of Democracy through its free and fair election,” the FM noted.

Davutoglu later on met with Maronite Patriarch Beshar al-Rahi.

He told reports that the meeting was “successful.”

Davutoglo revealed that he invited the Patriarch to visit turkey.

The meeting, according to the FM, tackled “the importance of preserving each sect’s traditions in the region especially in Lebanon.”

Asked if the meeting discussed the developments in Syria, Davutoglu said: “we’ve stressed on the importance of respecting all religions and sects as Lebanon is an example of coexistence.”

He confirmed that he will meet with a high-ranking Hizbullah official.

Davutoglu will attend a U.N. conference on democracy in the Arab world on Sunday.

The two-day "Reform and Transitions to Democracy" conference is organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).