Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Waleed al-Bukhari underscored on Saturday the Kingdom’s keenness on Lebanon’s security and stability.
He met with MP Ashraf Rifi in the northern city of Tripoli of which he was given a tour.
The envoy stressed the need for officials to “prioritize the higher interest” of the country above others.
He remarked that Lebanon needs to respect the constitutional deadline to elect a president.
President Michel Aoun’s term ends on October 31.
Rifi, a staunch Hezbollah critic, said the parliamentary elections that were held in May “have imposed a new reality in the political equation in the country.”
“The most important result is our ability as sovereign and independent MPs is preventing Hezbollah from imposing another Michel Aoun on us,” he added.
“We are working with all of our colleagues, who believe in the unity, sovereignty and independence of this nation, to elect a salvation and Arab president,” he stated.
This president would refuse to turn Lebanon into an arena for regional tensions that steer it away from its interests and those of its people, he went on to say.
“This prompted us to nominate Michel Mouawad as president,” Rifi said.
Mouawad is the son of slain President Rene Mouawad who was assassinated on November 22, 1989.
