Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry took part in discussions on Wednesday with his Lebanese counterpart, Nassif Hitti, on recent regional developments, according to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement. During the telephone discussions, Shoukry emphasised Egypt's desire for stability in Lebanon, the ministry statement said. The ministers also discussed issues of mutual interest and bilateral relations between the two countries. The conversation comes as part of Egypt's efforts to support peace, as well as economic and social stability in the region. On Tuesday, Lebanon's Higher Defense Council recommended a two-week extension of the country's lockdown, amid a continued spike of coronavirus (COVID-19) infections there. If approved by the Cabinet on Thursday, the council's proposal would see Lebanon's lockdown end on 7 June. Lebanon recorded 23 new infections on Tuesday, eight of whom were resident citizens and 15 were returning expats who were not tested before arrival in the country. The latest figures have raised Lebanon's total number of confirmed cases to 954.
