Szijjarto in phone talks with Lebanese, Nigerien officials

Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto on Friday said he had held phone talks with Gebran Bassil, the head of Lebanon's Free Patriotic Movement, and Hassoumi Massoudou, his Nigerien counterpart. Szijjarto said in a Facebook post that he had congratulated Bassil on Lebanon's successful elections and on his party remaining the largest Christian bloc in the Beirut parliament. Lebanon's stability and security is crucial for peace in the Middle East, Szijjarto said, adding that the local Christian community could continue to count on Hungary's support when it comes to the renovation of churches and schools. Meanwhile, Szijjarto discussed the importance of the security of West Africa's Sahel region with his Nigerien counterpart.