Lebanese President Michel Suleiman concluded his official visits to Bahrain and the UAE where he held discussions focusing on bilateral cooperation and current events in the Arab world, in particular Israel’s siege of the Gaza Strip and Arab reconciliation efforts.

While Suleiman was in Bahrain, King Hamad Bin Aissa issued a directive to reopen Bahrain’s embassy in Beirut. And in a tripartite strengthening of diplomatic ties, it was announced that a Joint Higher Ministerial Committee representing Lebanon, Bahrain and the UAE had been appointed to oversee relations among the three countries. The Lebanese President’s talks with the Bahraini Emir explored ways to foster bilateral relations in various fields and reviewed current developments in the region including efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and supporting establishment of a Palestinian state. They reiterated the need to implement Kuwait Summit decisions to achieve Arab reconciliation. Both sides confirmed during the talks the importance of breathing life into the cultural and economic relations between the two countries and facilitating investment, as well as cooperation in the medical field.

The Lebanese president then travelled to Abu Dhabi, where he held talks with UAE ruler Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan that reinforced strong amicable ties between the Emirates and Lebanon. Both leaders stressed the importance of moves to achieve Arab reconciliation and solidarity and to heal Palestinian differences, as outlined in the decisions of the recent Kuwait Summit. The Lebanese president’s visit to the Emirates was crowned with a gift by the UAE to Lebanon of ten Puma helicopters, a type familiar to Lebanese pilots. The helicopters are ready for immediate delivery.

Source: UAE news agency/Lebanese news agency