Source: Naharnet.com

President Michel Aoun held a meeting with French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault and his accompanying delegation at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, the state-run National News Agency reported on Thursday. Ayrault who arrived Wednesday evening, left the Baabda Palace without making a statement, NNA added.

However, media reports said that Aoun had reiterated during talks with the French diplomat “Lebanon's keenness to improve and develop the relations between the two countries.” For his part, Ayrault said: “France will continue to provide aid to Lebanon. Later, the FM held talks with Prime Minister Saad Hariri after which he made a statement and said: “We will exert efforts that Lebanon is kept away from the regional turmoil. “I present my support for Hariri who has a difficult mission ahead. France will continue to provide financial aid to help Lebanon with the file of the refugees.”