Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati stressed on Friday that his government is committed to forging good relations with Saudi Arabia, reiterating that the offensive comments by Information Minister George Kordahi do not represent official policy.
Mikati said he held talks with President Michel Aoun to tackle the latest developments after Saudi Arabia announced it was expelling the Lebanese ambassador in Riyadh, summoning its envoy in Beirut for consultations and imposing a blanket ban on all Lebanese imports. The Kingdom said the move will not affect tens of thousands of Lebanese citizens and their families who live and work in Saudi Arabia.
The PM then telephoned Kordahi, “asking him to prioritize the national interest and take the appropriate decision to restore Lebanon’s ties with Arab countries.”
He also requested that Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib remain in Beirut and cancel his trip to Glasgow where he was part of the Lebanese delegation at the United Nations climate summit so that he can follow up on the latest developments and form a crisis management cell.
Mikati regretted Saudi Arabia’s decision on Friday, saying: “We have long expressed our rejection to any offense to the Kingdom and we have called for mending relations that have been harmed in recent months.”
“Our ministerial statement has prioritized restoring the historic relations between Lebanon and its Arab brothers,” he continued.
Moreover, Mikati reiterated his assertion that Kordahi’s comments, which he made before assuming office, do not represent the stance of the government.
He hoped the Saudi leadership would reconsider its decision, while “we work hard to address its complaints.”
Addressing Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, he said: “We categorically reject anything that harms the deep fraternal relations with Saudi Arabia.”
The Kingdom, he continued, “has always stood by the Lebanese people as they have confronted major challenges throughout long decades.”
“We are committed to all strong fraternal relations and we are keen on maintaining the best fraternal ties with Saudi Arabia and the brothers in the Gulf Cooperation Council,” he went on to say.
Mikati called on Arab leaders to help in overcoming this crisis in order to maintain Arab unity, adding that he will continue to carry out the necessary contacts to address the crisis and its fallout.
Commenting on the developments, head of the Progressive Socialist Party Walid Jumblatt tweeted: “Enough catastrophes. Sack this minister, who is destroying our relations with the Arab Gulf, before it is too late. For how long will stupidity, conspiring and agents continue to hold sway over Lebanon’s internal and foreign policies?”
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said the government needs to take a “swift and decisive position to prevent more tragedies from befalling the Lebanese people.”
