Miqati in Belgium: Govt. Policy on Region Events Achieved Stability in Lebanon

Prime Minister Najib Miqati began a two-day official visit to Belgium on Wednesday by meeting his Belgian counterpart Elio Di Rupo.

The meeting, which was attended by Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour and Economy Minister Nicolas Nahhas, tackled “bilateral ties between Lebanon and Belgium, the situation in the Middle East region, the role of the U.N. forces stationed in southern Lebanon and the Belgian participation, in addition to facilitating the entry of Lebanese tourists and businessmen to Belgium.”

Di Rupo hailed “the good relations between Belgium and Lebanon and the active role of the Lebanese community in Belgium at all levels,” stressing the readiness of his government to “improve these ties at all levels.”

According to a statement issued by Miqati’s press office, Di Rupo also lauded “the stability south Lebanon is witnessing,” noting that “the Belgian participation in the UNIFIL force will continue.”

The Belgian premier also said his country “backs international envoy Kofi Annan’s efforts which are aimed at halting the violence in Syria and addressing the situation there in the framework of a political solution.”

For his part, Miqati thanked Belgium for its “support for Lebanon,” lauding “the role performed by the Belgian contingent within UNIFIL.”

He also extended gratitude to Belgium for “the services offered by the field hospital in south Lebanon,” noting that “the presence of UNIFIL in south Lebanon represents an essential factor contributing to achieving stability in the region.”

“My first visit after assuming my duties was to the South and to the headquarters of the U.N. force, to express our adherence to the role performed by these forces,” the statement quoted Miqati as telling his Belgian counterpart.

Miqati also briefed Di Rupo on the Lebanese government’s policy towards the current situations in the Middle East, “especially the situation in Syria, noting that the government’s approach has contributed to achieving stability in Lebanon and sparing it the repercussions of the external situations as much as possible.”

Miqati is scheduled to meet on Thursday with Belgium’s parliament speaker and senate president, as well as with the head of the European commission, the commissioner for European neighborhood policy and the president of the European Parliament.