(BEIRUT) - French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, whose country holds the European Union presidency, arrived in Beirut on Sunday at the start of a four-nation Middle East tour, the official ANI news agency said.

Kouchner is due on Monday to meet with Lebanese President Michel Sleiman, Prime Minister Fuad Siniora and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri before heading to Syria.

His visit follows an announcement on August 13 by Lebanon and Syria that they would start diplomatic ties for the first time since they both attained independence from France about 60 years ago.

The French foreign ministry has hailed the move as an "encouraging sign" for the region.

Kouchner's visit to Damascus will be the first by a French government member since former president Jacques Chirac broke off ties in response to the February 2005 assassination of former Lebanese premier Rafiq Hariri.

The minister is due also to head for Israel, the Palestinian territories and Egypt before winding up his trip on August 25, diplomats said

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