(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) US Foreign Secretary John Kerry departed Lebanon on Wednesday following a brief one-day visit where he held meetings with a number of local officials and Christian leaders.
After earlier meeting Prime Minister Tamam Salam, Kerry met Christian leaders in the country, namely the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi and the Vatican Ambassador to Lebanon Gabriel Katcha, concluding his visit without issuing any statements after talks with parliament speaker Nabih Berri. Meanwhile, a statement by Berri's office said that his talks with the US foreign minister discussed the influx of Syrian refugees, failing attempts to elect a new president and Washington's acceptance of the victory of any presidential candidate.
Kerry was quoted as having underlined the importance of voting in a new president, adding that this was down to the Lebanese people themselves.
The US chief diplomat departed Lebanon after having earlier announced a USD 51 million assistance package to Lebanon aimed at addressing the needs of the huge influx of refugees from neighbouring Syria.
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