Bernard Kouchner
Photo: AP
French, German FMs to visit Mideast
France's Kouchner to meet Assad, Hariri, while Germany's Westerwelle will hold talks focusing on 'regional aspects of the Arab-Israeli conflict'
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner is due to arrive in the Middle East this weekend for a two-day visit.
The French Foreign Ministry said Thursday that Kouchner is expected to arrive in the region on Saturday for meetings with Syrian President Bashar Assad and Foreign Minister Walid Moallem.
Kouchner's meetings in Damascus will focus on "all of the aspects of the situation in the region," said French Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero.
While in Beirut Kouchner is expected to hold talks with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister Saad Hariri, and "express France's support for the unity government headed by Hariri."
According to Valero, the French FM will reiterate "France's commitment to stability in the region and its willingness to contribute to it."
Germany's Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle is set to arrive in the region on Friday and will visit Syria, Lebanon, Egypt and Jordan in order "to discuss regional aspects of the Arab-Israeli conflict as well as the peace process," according to the German Foreign Ministry.
