British FM to visit Lebanon Tuesday
British Foreign Minister David Miliband is to visit Lebanon tomorrow, Tuesday, for talks with President Michel Sleiman, Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and Speaker Nabih Berri, the Lebanese National News Agency (NNA) reported.
Miliband arrived in the Middle East on Sunday for talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders in a bid to bolster the peace process as Israel prepares for early elections.
After landing in Israel, Miliband was due to go into Jerusalem talks with interim Prime Minister Ehud Barak, a British embassy spokeswoman said.
Miliband is due to meet both Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu, the two frontrunners to head a new government. He will also meet Defense Minister Ehud Barak.
After Israel, Miliband will go on to West Bank talks with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas as part of his efforts to bolster support for the peace negotiations relaunched in Annapolis last November that have failed to achieve their target of an agreement by the end of this year.
Last week, Miliband hailed the establishment of Lebanese-Syrian diplomatic ties and the tightening of Syria’s borders with Iraq, as he announced his visit to the region.
“There has been an important change in the approach of the Syrian government,” said Miliband at a press conference Wednesday, stressing on “the historic decision to exchange ambassadors with Lebanon.”
“I think it is very, very important that Syria fulfils all its responsibilities, including in respect of Hezbollah, but I also think it is important that we find ways to play a constructive role in the future of the Middle East,” he said.