ERR News – President of Lebanon Michel Sulayman assured Foreign Minister Paet in Beirut that, to his knowledge, the seven Estonian cyclists kidnapped in Bekaa Valley on March 23 are alive.
"The president just now told me at our meeting that, according to his sources, it is very clear that the kidnapped Estonian citizens are alive and that various Lebanese agencies are continuing to do their utmost to solve the situation," Paet told ERR radio in a phone interview from Beirut.
Paet said that President of Lebanon has been in contact with Syrian authorities over the last few days, also bringing up the issue of the liberation of Estonian citizens and has requested every possible assistance from Syria.
"As a result of our meeting, the president pledged to take this matter up in communication with his Syrian counterpart in the upcoming days and to keep it on the agenda," Paet said.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Paet flew to Beirut on June 21 to meet with members of the newly appointed Lebanese Cabinet.
Paet told uudised.err.ee that the main topic on the agenda will be the ongoing search for the seven abducted cyclists whose whereabouts are still undisclosed.
He met with President Michel Sulayman, as well as Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Foreign Minister Adnan Mansouri and Interior Minister Marwan Charbel of the new government appointed last week. Paet also had meetings scheduled with Commander-in-Chief of the Lebanese Defense Forces Gen. Jean Kahwagi and several other senior officials.
