German Chancellor Angela Merkel concluded Monday a visit to Lebanon after visiting her country's naval forces, who are monitoring the Lebanese coast for arms smuggling under a UN mandate, according to dpa. The German chancellor, who was on her first visit to Lebanon, praised the cooperation between the German contingent and the Lebanese navy. "I am very happy with the performance of our naval troops and their close coordination with the Lebanese navy," Merkel told reporters onboard a naval ship. "Germany will continue to offer all the possible assistance to help secure peace in the region," she added. Germany heads the United Nations naval patrol of the Lebanese coast in accordance with UN security council resolution 1701, which on August 14 last ended the Israeli-Hezbollah war. After her sea trip Merkel travelled to Beirut International Airport for a flight back to Germany. Lebanon was the last stop of Merkel's Mideast tour which took her to Israel, Jordan, and the Palestinian territories.
