French foreign minister visits Lebanon French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault arrived in Beirut on July 11 for a two-day visit aimed at resolving the presidential vacuum in Lebanon. Ayrault held talks on the current stalemate in the country with politicians across the political spectrum, including Prime Minister Tammam Salam, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, his counterpart Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai and a delegation from Hezbollah. The visit comes in the wake of talks Ayrault held in Paris last month with the foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia, two Middle East regional powers that back opposing candidates for the presidency in Lebanon. Before departing, the French foreign minister also reiterated his country’s commit- ment to helping Lebanon overcome economic, social and security challenges stemming from the war in neighboring Syria. Ayrault’s trip fol- lows an official visit made by French President Francois Hollande to Lebanon in April.
