FM officials discuss bilateral cooperation in Beirut

BELGRADE/BEIRUT - Marko Blagojevic, Serbian Foreign Ministry (FM) secretary general, and Vladimir Maric, head of the Foreign minister's cabinet, met in Beirut Wednesday with Lebanese Foreign Ministry Secretary General Wafic Rehaime, who said that Lebanon has no plans to recognize Kosovo independence.

"The talks focused on political and economic cooperation," the Serbian Foreign Ministry said in a release.

Blagojevic and Maric told Lebanese officials that the governemnt in Belgrade plans to open a diplomatic office an an embassy in Beirut soon which, according to the Foreign Ministry, should further improve relations between the two countries.

Rehaime stressed that Lebanon has no plans to recognize the unilaterally proclaimed Kosovo independence and that his country's policy on this issue will not change, the relelase said.