(Ottawa) Prime Minister Justin Trudeau discussed the situation in Lebanon with French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday evening in Ottawa during an informal private dinner.
Arriving at Parliament on Thursday morning for a more formal meeting, the two men summarized their conversation the previous day at Rideau Cottage. Mr. Trudeau notably mentioned “the extremely difficult situation in Lebanon,” a country “where France and Canada have deep ties.”
The Prime Minister highlighted the call for an “immediate 21-day ceasefire” launched the day before by the United States, France and other allies, including Canada.
The ceasefire call is aimed at allowing negotiations in the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which has left more than 600 dead in Lebanon in recent days.
Mr. Trudeau reiterated Thursday morning that Lebanese civilians and families must be protected at all costs, and he called on Israel and Hezbollah to work toward a de-escalation, “right now.”
The two men said they also spoke Wednesday evening about the situation in Haiti, and President Macron praised “the key role that Canada is playing.”
“We will be at your side more,” he promised Thursday morning.
Mr Macron and Mr Trudeau were due to travel to Montreal later on Thursday, where the prime minister wants to discuss artificial intelligence with the French president.
Mr. Macron is also due to meet with Quebec Premier François Legault in Montreal late this afternoon.
Mr Macron and Mr Trudeau were in New York earlier this week for the opening of the United Nations General Assembly, and they will meet again next week, this time in France, for the Francophonie summit.
Mr. Macron last came to Canada in 2018, before the pandemic, for the G7 Summit in La Malbaie.