Cazeneuve Voices Solidarity with Lebanon on Refugees, Hails 'Ideal Security Cooperation'

French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve stressed Monday his country's solidarity with Lebanon in the face of the Syrian refugee crisis during an official visit to Beirut

Cazeneuve, who arrived at dawn, met with Prime Minister Tammam Salam, Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq and a number of other officials.

He also visited the eastern Bekaa region to tour Syrian refugee encampments.

The minister held a joint press conference with Mashnouq at the airport before departing Beirut, noting that his talks in Lebanon tackled “the fight against terrorism, cooperation in the field of security and Syrian refugees.”

“I want to declare, from Beirut, that there is ideal cooperation between our two countries in the field of security,” Cazeneuve said.

“I came here today to express France's solidarity with Lebanon in the face of this (Syrian refugee) crisis, especially that Lebanon is hosting 1.2 million refugees,” he added.

Y.R.