Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Minister, Gebran Bassil, wrapped up his tour of Latin America with a visit to Mexico City where he met with his Mexican counterpart, Luis Vidigarai Cassou, with talks touching on the region's issues.

The Mexican foreign minister said he was "exerting efforts for the non-reoccurrence of the latest governmental crisis, for the sake of preserving Lebanon's stability."

The two sides agreed to "re-launch free trade negotiations between the two countries, for this matter is currently suspended."

Minister Bassil met with members of the Lebanese community in Mexico to whom he said "Lebanon is living a true independence this year. Our independence is fulfilled because we have restored our free national decision, and we maintain this independence through our unity. We refuse to be an affiliate to any axis whatsoever."

"Our independence has become a reality and our national unity has gotten stronger. Partnership has been established through equality between Muslims and Christians. Our foreign policy is independent and our national decision is free."

"Lebanon is promised an important economic renaissance beginning soon by signing oil and gas contracts for excavation in the Lebanese Sea, along with a booming export sector," he said, announcing the opening of the Lebanese-Mexican expatriates house next May in Batroun, calling on members of the community to participate in the Diaspora Energy conference to be held in Beirut, or the conference to be held in Argentina in 2018.

He concluded by saying that "the Lebanese are not complete without citizenship," and called on them to participate in the upcoming parliamentary elections

Source: NNA