Miqati in Turkey on Wednesday, Discussions to Include Kidnapped Pilgrims
Prime Minister Najib Miqati is scheduled to visit Ankara on a one-day visit Wednesday for discussions that will include the case of nine Lebanese pilgrims kidnapped in Syria, Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said.
Charbel told As Safir daily published Tuesday that Miqati will discuss with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip 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 delegation to Turkey will include 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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