Hariri Begins U.S. Visit, Says Security and Refugees are Top Challenges

Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Monday kicked off his official visit to the United States by meeting a number of U.S. Congress officials in Washington.

A statement issued by the premier's office said Hariri visited the Capitol complex where he met with ‎Chris Brose, the Staff Director at the Senate Armed Services Committee, the Committee's Policy Director Matt Donovan and a number of officials.

The meeting was held in the presence of Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil, Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh, Lebanese Embassy charge d'affaires Carla Jazzar, the director of the PM's office Nader Hariri, Hariri's adviser on U.S. affairs Ambassador Amal Mudallali, and the premier's security adviser Brig. Gen. Maroun Hitti.

“At the beginning of the meeting, Brose welcomed PM Hariri, stressing the importance of the meeting,” Hariri's office said.

Hariri for his part saluted the Committee's head Senator John McCain, who was recently diagnosed with brain cancer, underlining the importance of “consolidating Lebanese-American ties.”

“Lebanon is facing a lot of challenges but it is enjoying stability, despite all the wars that the region is witnessing, and it is still a moderation model in the region that should be preserved and promoted, in order to preserve minorities across the region, especially that the Lebanese Constitution preserves these rights,” the PM added.

He also noted that the top challenges that Lebanon are facing are “security and the refugee crisis.”

Hariri is scheduled to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday.