Maltese MP in Lebanon

A Maltese Member of Parliament is in Lebanon to promote ties with the Council of Europe and the European Parliament, from Lebanon's Daily Star:

Maltese MP Leo Brincat arrived in Beirut Tuesday to meet with Lebanon's parliamentary blocs and committees, in a effort to promote bilateral relations between the Lebanese and European Parliaments. Brincat, who was assigned by the European Council to visit Lebanon and discuss the means to promote bilateral relations, met Tuesday with several parliamentary blocs, including the Future and the Development and Liberation blocs.

Following his meeting with Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh, the MP said the European Council was anxious to assist Lebanon in its development socially, educationally and technologically. Social Affairs Minister Nayla Mouawad held a lunch Tuesday in Brincat's honor, in the presence of Public Works and Transportation Minister Mohammad Safadi, acting Interior Minister Ahmad Fatfat, EU Ambassador Patrick Renauld and MPs Nabil De Freij, Samir Franjieh and Jawad Boulos. "We have discussed with MP Brincat the means to promote relations with the EU and informed him of the situation in the country and the region," Mouawad said after the lunch.

The minister said discussions centered on the Palestinian cause and "Lebanon's continuous calls for the EU's support." Mouawad also said the Lebanese representative asked Brincat to support the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1680, which urges Syria and Lebanon to demarcate their common borders and establish diplomatic relations. Brincat is expected to meet Wednesday with the Syrian Social Nationalist bloc, the Democratic Gathering, the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc, the Reform and Change bloc and and the Lebanese Forces bloc.