French Foreign Minister begins regional tour in Beirut
Lebanon, Politics, 1/12/1998

French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine began a regional tour Sunday with a visit to Beirut during which he will hold talks with Lebanese officials on the Mideast peace process and the situation in south Lebanon.

Vedrine was received at the airport by Foreign Minister Fares Boueiz, who described the French envoy as "a friend of Lebanon."

"I am very happy to be in Lebanon," Vedrine told reporters at Beirut International Airport. Vedrine added it was his first official trip to Beirut as French foreign minister.

The two ministers then headed for talks at the Foreign Ministry.

Vedrine, who heads a 25-member delegation, inaugurated Monday morning a new French consulate in Beirut in the presence of Boueiz and French diplomats.

The is scheduled to hold talks with President Elias Hrawi Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and House Speaker Nabih Berri.

Following his 24-hour stop in Beirut, Vedrine will travel to Amman, where he will meet with King Hussein and other top officials of the Jordanian government. He will also travel to Syria for talks with President Hafez Assad.

In an exclusive statement to Monte Carlo radio before heading to the region, Vedrine stressed his country's commitment to forwarding the Middle East peace process with the participation of the European Union and consultation of the US and Russia. He noted continuous talks between President Chirac and US President Bill Clinton and "between the US Secretary of State and myself," concerning the establishment of peace in the Middle East. He went on, "We exchange views, which are not necessarily identical, but the objective is common ideas to promote peace in the region."

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