Fabius Meets Miqati, Says 'Friends of Lebanon' to Meet Early March
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius assured on Saturday that an international conference will take place in Paris in March to help Lebanon deal with the repercussions of the Syrian crisis.
"France is determined to go forward with what was agreed on before through holding an international conference in early March to help Lebanon overcome its current political and economic difficulties,” Fabius said after meeting with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati in Germany's Munich.
Miqati stressed after the talks on Lebanon's need for Arab and international efforts to help it bear the burdens of the huge influx of Syrian refugees into the country, pointing out to this issue's consequences on the economy.
It is estimated that more than 902,000 Syrian refugees are currently in Lebanon, which has been strained by the conflict in its much larger neighbor.
Fabius reiterated his country's support to Lebanon and its army, through strengthening it its logistical potentials “especially that the military institution enjoys the consensus of all Lebanese factions.”
The French diplomat also expressed his concern over the ongoing violence in neighboring Syria, and the inability to “reach a solution to draw an end to the suffering of the Syrian people.”
Miqati is currently in Germany for the 50th annual Munich Security Conference, where he reiterated the Lebanese government's call on the international community to help Lebanon support the burden of Syrian refugees.
He also held talks on Saturday with deputy Russian Foreign Minister Alexander Bogdanov, and United Nations and Arab League envoy on Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi.
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