Miqati Meets Erdogan, Urges Turkish Pressure on Abductors of Lebanese Pilgrims
Prime Minister Najib Miqati on Wednesday held talks in Ankara with Turkey's President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, requesting that Turkey pressure the abductors of the nine Lebanese Shiite pilgrims in Syria's Aazaz to secure their release.
After his meeting with Erdogan, Miqati expressed satisfaction with the talks, calling for "full cooperation between the two countries in all fields in a manner that would serve them both."
"I am assured after the talks that Lebanon and Turkey enjoy solid ties," Miqati said.
Asked about reports that Israeli warplanes hit a Lebanon-bound convoy in Syria, Miqati said "the media reports have not been confirmed and I have not yet contacted the Lebanese army over the issue."
For his part, Erdogan told reporters: "We have long backed Lebanon's unity and we would like to witness peace among all of its people."
"The Lebanese people are in great need of peaceful coexistence at this point in time. We hoped that the current disputes in the country will be addressed through dialogue,” Erdogan added.
“We discussed with Miqati the Exclusive Economic Zone in the Mediterranean,” he noted, adding that “Miqati's trip was very important and I think that it will help pave the way for more cooperation between Lebanon and Turkey.”
Commenting on the issue of the Lebanese abductees, Erdogan said: “We are exerting efforts together with the brothers concerned in order to secure the release of the abductees in Aazaz and we hope to succeed.”
Miqati arrived earlier in the day in Ankara on a one-day official visit.
He kicked off the visit by holding talks with President Abdullah Gul.
Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said in remarks published Tuesday that Miqati would discuss with Erdogan and other officials several issues, including the latest negotiations on the Lebanese hostages, who are held by rebels in the Aleppo town of Aazaz that lies near the Turkish border.
The minister later told LBCI television that Miqati's talks with Gul focused on the case of the nine abducted Lebanese pilgrims.
The delegation to Turkey includes Charbel, Public Works Minister Ghazi Aridi, Economy Minister Nicolas Nahhas and the head of General Security Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim.
The Turkish Ambassador in Beirut, Inan Ozyildiz, said Monday that his country was exerting all efforts to release the kidnapped men.
Following talks with Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour at Bustros palace, the diplomat said he discussed with the minister the preparations for Miqati's visit to Turkey.
Asked about the pilgrims, he said: “There is nothing new but Prime Minister Erdogan will inform PM Miqati on the latest developments in the case.”
Qatar was also lately involved in the negotiations aimed at setting free the 9 men who were kidnapped along with 2 others last May while on their way home by land from a pilgrimage in Iran.
The two were released in August and September.
Both Turkey and Qatar are strong backers of rebels fighting the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
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