President Higgins began his Official Visit to Lebanon on Thursday 17 October.
The President was invited by the President of the Lebanese Republic, Michel Aoun.
The Presidential visit to Lebanon provided an opportunity to reinforce bilateral links between the two countries, coming shortly after a bilateral meeting between the Presidents at the UN in New York.
It was also an opportunity for the President to assess the dynamics in this important region and to highlight Ireland’s long-term commitment to peacekeeping in Lebanon and its ongoing support for UN agencies and NGOs assisting Lebanon in managing its substantial refugee population.
At the start of his Official Visit, President Higgins laid a wreath at a monument for the Arab Nationalist leaders executed in May 1916 by Ottoman military leader Ahmed Djemal Pasha.
President Higgins also had meetings with the President of Lebanon, HE Michel Aoun, with Prime Minister Saad Hariri, and Speaker of the Parliament Nabih Berri. The President also visited the headquarters of UNIFIL, and made a visit to Irish UNIFIL troops stationed in Southern Lebanon.
