U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Bill Burns arrived in Beirut Tuesday for talks with Lebanese officials on bilateral ties and regional issues

Burns is expected to meet with President Suleiman, Prime Minister Hariri, and other Lebanese leaders. During his visit to Lebanon he is expected to confirm United States’ continued support for a sovereign and independent Lebanon.

On February 17 he is expected to head to to Syria to meet with President Bashar Assad and Foreign Minister Walid Mouallem.

During this trip to the region Burns will be also visiting Turkey, and Azerbaijan according to the US state department