U.S. West Asia envoy George Mitchell has said that Lebanon is key to regional peace. In a statement, during his visit to Lebanon he said that Lebanon would play a key role in the effort to build a lasting and comprehensive peace and stability in the Middle East. He was in Beirut at the start of a regional tour aimed at restarting West Asia peace talks. Mitchell's visit is part of a U.S. effort to restart peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians involving Syria, Lebanon and Arab world. He met with Lebanese President Michel Sleiman today and reiterated Washington's commitment to the stalled West Asia peace process and Lebanon's independence.