28 March

Today in Beirut Foreign Minister Urmas Paet met with President of Lebanon Michel Sulayman, Minister of the Interior Ziad Baroud, prime ministerial candidate Najib Mikat, who is currently responsible for forming a new government, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berr, Chief of the Lebanese Armed Forces General Kahwaji, top Foreign Ministry personnel, and other officials. Paet also met with representatives of EU and NATO countries in Lebanon.

Foreign Minister Paet said that in every one of his meetings, the Lebanese representatives gave a clear signal that finding the seven abducted Estonian citizens and catching the perpetrators is an important priority for Lebanon. “The president, interior minister, chief of the armed forces, and others all confirmed that Lebanon is doing all it can to solve this kidnapping and free the Estonian citizens,” he asserted.

The foreign minister noted that there are still many possible versions of the event being investigated, but so far none of them have enough factual evidence. “Different versions are being investigated and the Lebanese security forces and army are continuing their operations in the area where the Estonians were abducted,” he added.

Paet said that close co-operation with Lebanon as well as our partner countries is very important.