(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Lebanese Foreign Affairs Minister Gebran Bassil said it was his duty to visit Lebanese immigrants in Brazil on Wednesday because their population doubles the Lebanese population in number.
“The number of Lebanese in Brazil is two-times the number in Lebanon. Therefore, it is my duty to visit them on a regular basis and connect them with Lebanon to strengthen economic and political ties between Lebanon and Brazil,” Bassil told Brazilian magazine Estada Sao Paolo.
He said his visit to Brazil was due to the recent Expatriate Energy Conference in Lebanon. He also expressed hope that Brazil would offer Lebanon assistance in combating terrorism.
The minister is also expected to meet Beto Richa, the Governor of the Brazilian state of Paran, which hosts the largest Lebanese community.
When asked whether he would watch the Wold Cup 2014 matches, Bassil replied, “Of course, how could anyone be in Brazil at such timing and miss it?