Ashton in Beirut on Wednesday to Inquire About Lebanon’s Commitment to Tribunal

The European Union's top diplomat Catherine Ashton will visit Lebanon on Wednesday as part of a broader Middle East trip, a source at Lebanon's foreign ministry told German Press Agency dpa.

She is due to meet with President Michel Suleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri, outgoing Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Premier-designate Najib Miqati and Caretaker Minister Ali al-Shami during her four-hour visit.

Discussions will focus on the situation in Lebanon and on developments in the region, dpa said.

However, An Nahar daily said Tuesday that Ashton would reiterate to Miqati the EU’s insistence on the implementation of all Security Council resolutions on Lebanon and the respect of the international tribunal.

The newspaper quoted a European diplomatic source as saying that Ashton would also ask Miqati about his draft policy statement.

Ashton will travel to Israel and the Palestinian territories on Tuesday, where she will meet key actors in the Middle East peace process.