Qatar FM to Visit Lebanon for Talks with Aoun, Top Leaders

Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman al-Thani will visit Lebanon Wednesday for talks with President Michel Aoun and top Lebanese officials, state-run National News Agency reported.

The minister will be carrying a letter from Qatar's ruler Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, NNA said.

In addition to his talks with Aoun, Sheikh Mohammed will meet with Speaker Nabih Berri, caretaker Prime Minister Tammam Salam, PM-designate Saad Hariri and caretaker Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil.

The visit comes a few days after a similar one by a senior Saudi delegation led by Mecca Governor Prince Khaled al-Faisal.

Aoun's election as Lebanon's 13th president after two and a half years of presidential void has raised hopes that Lebanon can begin tackling challenges including a stagnant economy, a moribund political class and the influx of more than a million Syrian refugees.

In addition to pledges of economic growth and security, Aoun said in his oath of office that Lebanon must work to ensure Syrian refugees "can return quickly" to their country.

Aoun also pledged to endorse an "independent foreign policy" and to protect Lebanon from "the fires burning across the region."