Lebanese President Michel Aoun chaired on Monday a security meeting at the Baabda presidential palace, announcing that political leaders have been responsive with the call for calm in wake of the resignation of Prime Minister Saad Hariri over the weekend.
He said in a statement: “Their responsiveness bolsters security stability and preserves national unity.”
Stability is “a red line”, said Justice Minister Salim Jreissati after the meeting the brought together ministers and top security officials to assess the situation in Lebanon after Hariri’s shock resignation of Saturday.
The meeting included Defense Minister Yaacoub al-Sarraf and Army Commander General Joseph Aoun.
The PM stepped down in protest against Iran’s continued meddling in Lebanon’s internal affairs through its ally “Hezbollah.”
In wake of the announcement, Aoun held a series of talks with various local and international figures to assess situation in Lebanon.
On Sunday, he telephoned Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah II.
Sisi stressed that Egypt stands by Lebanon and it backs its sovereignty and unity of its land and people.
The Jordanian monarch reiterated this stance, saying that Amman supports the unity of the Lebanese people and their national consensus.
Aoun was set on Monday to meet Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil and Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh, who later told local LBCI television that the country’s monetary situation was stable after Hariri stepped down.
Markets were also normal two days after the resignation, he said, stressing that there was no danger to the Lebanese pound.
