French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourné has arrived in Beirut for a visit. He will meet with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri and Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib.
The Lebanese capital is the first stop on the French politician’s Middle East tour, during which he will also visit Egypt, Jordan and Israel. The goal of the trip is to achieve a defusal of regional tensions. France has long-standing ties with Lebanon.
The day before, US Presidential Special Envoy Amos Hochstein visited Beirut. He called on the parties to the conflict to take advantage of the “diplomatic window of opportunity” and reach an agreement to end hostilities both in the Gaza Strip and on the Lebanese-Israeli border.