Prime Minister Saad Hariri received Thursday afternoon at the Grand Serail the Paraguayan Foreign Minister Luis Alberto Castiglioni with a delegation, accompanied by the Paraguayan Ambassador to Lebanon. 

After the meeting, Castiglioni said: "We just had a very important meeting with Prime Minister Hariri, and I had the honor to convey to him the greetings of the President of Paraguay and I invited him to visit the country. 

I also informed him that the Lebanese community in Paraguay is one of the largest and best communities. It has contributed to the development of Paraguay and the Lebanese are successful at all levels. The current president of Paraguay is of Lebanese origins, as is my wife, and this shows the strength of the Lebanese community in our country. Therefore we, as officials, must do everything in our power to promote rapprochement between our two countries." 

He added: "I also informed Premier Hariri about the meetings I held with Speaker Nabih Berri, Minister Gebran Basil, and at the Chamber of Beirut and Mount Lebanon, and the excellent atmosphere of these meetings.

I stressed the need to conclude agreements as soon as possible between Lebanon and the MERCOSUR, especially since this group has concluded an agreement with the European Union. Any agreement between Lebanon and Paraguay will have very positive results for the Lebanese State." 

He concluded: "I also informed the Prime Minister that this is my first visit to Lebanon, during which I also met with Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros Rahi. I am very pleased that Prime Minister Hariri has accepted our invitation. Next year, the President of Paraguay will visit Lebanon and then we will be waiting for Prime Minister Hariri in our country."