President George W. Bush will meet with visiting Prime Minister Fouad Siniora next week for talks on a variety of topics, the White House announced Monday. At the April 18 meeting, the two leaders will discuss economic development and democratic reform in Lebanon and the Middle East, the U.N. investigation into the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, and "Lebanon's continuing efforts to re-establish its sovereignty, freedom, and independence," the White House said in a statement. "Lebanon is a good friend and valued partner to the United States, and has made tremendous strides under Prime Minister Siniora's leadership toward greater prosperity and democracy since the withdrawal of Syrian troops from the country," the White House wrote.
