European Commissioner Várhelyi meets Berri, Mikati in Beirut

European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi has met in Beirut with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

Várhelyi also met Monday with Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdallah Bou Habib, and the Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces Joseph Aoun.

The Commissioner’s mission aimed to lay the groundwork for restarting dialogue and identify areas of reinforced cooperation, the Delegation of the European Union to Lebanon said in a statement.

Várhelyi's visit to Beirut followed a meeting of the European Council last week, where the European leaders recalled the European Union's strong support for Lebanon and the Lebanese people "in the difficult circumstances the country is experiencing domestically and due to regional tensions."