The Saudi Arabian envoy to Lebanon, Waleed al-Bukhari, has reaffirmed the Kingdom’s position on the Lebanese presidential election, characterizing it as an internal political affair for Lebanon.
The statement was relayed by a spokesperson for the Maronite Patriarchate in Lebanon after al-Bukhari’s meeting with Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai, which took place during the envoy’s second day of engagements with Lebanese religious and political leaders.
Following his departure from Bkerke, Ambassador al-Bukhari refrained from making any public comments.
However, according to Waleed Ghayyad, the media officer at the Patriarchate, al-Bukhari extended Saudi Arabia’s greetings to al-Rai and lauded his efforts and initiatives aimed at breaking the deadlock in the presidential election.
Ghayyad applauded al-Bukhari’s acknowledgement of the grave consequences that the presidential vacuum posed to Lebanon’s future and underlined the pressing need to achieve a consensus on this vital issue.
According to Ghayyad, al-Bukhari emphasized the need to end the presidential vacuum as soon as possible, affirming that the Patriarch’s initiatives can promote partnership and preserve national unity in Lebanon.
Ghayyad added that the Kingdom regards the presidential election as a quintessentially Lebanese political matter, emphasizing that decisions on political choices are made and taken in Beirut. He pointed out that the Kingdom is opposed to any external interference in this issue.
Al-Bukhari, as per Ghayyad, also emphasized that Saudi Arabia is confident in the Lebanese people’s ability to reach an agreement that restores the trust of the international community and helps in finding suitable solutions to the political, economic, and security crises in Lebanon.
Moreover, the Saudi diplomat reaffirmed that the Kingdom has no objections to any presidential candidate who has the trust of the Lebanese people, and that any president elected by the parliament will be welcomed by the Kingdom, which is keen on cooperation and supporting Lebanon.
