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Embassy of Ireland, Egypt

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Embassy of Ireland, Egypt

President Higgins Visits Lebanon

President Michael D. Higgins visited Lebanon on 26 April to 29 April 2015. During the visit the President met Mr. Tammam Salam, President of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Lebanon, and visited Irish Peacekeeping troops serving with UNIFIL. 

President Michael D. Higgins travelled to Beirut on 26 April where he was met by the Irish Ambassador, Ms. Isolde Moylan, Mr Paul Kehoe T.D., Minister of State at the Departments of An Taoiseach and Defence, and Mr. Georges H. Siam, Honorary Consul General of Ireland in Lebanon.

On the morning of the 27th April the President visited the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Byblos. The President then met with Mr Tamaam Salam, President of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Lebanon and attended a lunch hosted by Mr Salam.  

The President meets Mr. Tammam Salam      

In the afternoon the President  met with Irish and International NGOs as well as United Nations Representatives working with refugees in the region.  In the evening he met with UN Agency Heads based in Beirut, at an event hosted by the Irish Ambassador.     

On Tuesday 28th April the President departed Beirut by helicopter for UNIFIL, South Lebanon, accompanied by Mr Samir Mokbel, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for the Defence of the Lebanese Republic, and Minister of State Kehoe. On arrival in the 47th Infantry Group area he was met by the Officer Commanding, Lt. Col. Kevin McCarthy. After a briefing on the Irish operation he inspected a Captain’s Honour Guard and addressed the assembled troops. 

The President inspects a UNIFIL Captain’s Guard of Honour

After a courtesy call on the UNIFIL Force Commander, Major-General Luciano Portolano, the President planted a Cedar Tree at the Irish Headquarters.  He then attended an operational display involving Irish and Finnish troops before attending a lunch hosted by Lt-Col McCarthy. 

He also met with the Mayor of Tibnin, Mr Nabil Fawaz, and laid a wreath at the Tibnin UNIFIL Monument. The President then visited one of the Irish posts where he was given a tour of the facilities and met the troops on duty.

On the morning of Wednesday the 29th April the President departed Beirut for Dublin.

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