The head of European Union (EU) diplomacy, Josep Borrell, arrived in Beirut early Wednesday afternoon for a two-day visit, as part of a tour that has taken him to Egypt in recent days.
Mr. Borrell arrived “at Beirut International Airport, at the head of a delegation,” reports the Lebanese National News Agency (ANI, official).
During his stay in Lebanon, Mr. Borrell is due to meet, at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, with Druze leader Walid Joumblatt and, on Thursday, with outgoing Prime Minister Nagib Mikati, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berry, and outgoing Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib. A press conference is scheduled for 12:45 p.m. Thursday at the Bustros Palace. The head of European diplomacy is also due to meet with the head of the Lebanese army, General Joseph Aoun.
Josep Borrel’s mission “is part of the EU’s continued regional action to prevent further escalation” in the region, according to a statement published by Brussels earlier this week. “This visit takes place in the context of the war in Gaza, where the dire humanitarian situation and the fate of the hostages make an urgent ceasefire even more critical (…) The EU’s support for Lebanon’s resilience and stability, as well as its regional role, will be discussed with a range of national and international stakeholders, including the United Nations,” the text said.
Earlier this week, the EU’s foreign policy chief held official meetings in Cairo, then attended a ministerial meeting of the Arab League and visited the Egyptian side of the border with the Gaza Strip, at Rafah.
This article is originally published on lorientlejour.com
