RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has one political discourse that has earned the respect of all, the Kingdom’s ambassador to Lebanon said on Wednesday.
Walid bin Abdullah Bukhari made the comments in response to claims made by Lebanon’s foreign minister that Gulf states had supported the rise of Daesh.
Charbel Wehbe, who is a minister in the caretaker government, asked President Michel Aoun to be relieved of his duties on Wednesday.
Wehbe also made other disparaging comments during a television interview that were condemned by Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday.
Bukhari received Lebanese delegations at the Saudi embassy in Beirut who came to express their condemnation of Wehbe’s comments, Al-Ekhbariya reported.
The first to arrive was Lebanon’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian who emphasized the good relations between the two countries.
The Arab League also criticized the comments on Wednesday, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said that Wehbe’s comments were far from “diplomatic decency,” and “contributed to tension in the Lebanese-Gulf relationship instead of correcting its course as required.”
The Secretary-General added the comments were “an infringement of the rights of Gulf Arab states in general and the kingdom of Saudi Arabia in particular.”
Saudi envoy to Lebanon: Kingdom has one political discourse that has earned everyone’s respect
https://arab.news/yfdcn
Saudi envoy to Lebanon: Kingdom has one political discourse that has earned everyone’s respect
- Wehbe suggested on Monday that Gulf states had supported the rise of Daesh
- Bukhari received Lebanese delegations at the Saudi embassy who came to express their condemnation of Wehbe’s comments
AlUla revives Tantora Ceremony, reaffirming cultural tradition
- Event is cornerstone of intangible heritage
ALULA: The historic Tantora Ceremony will be revived in AlUla Old Town on Monday, reaffirming one of the region’s most distinctive cultural traditions while also being a cornerstone of its intangible heritage.
The Tantora is a sundial that residents once relied on to mark the start of the agricultural season and the arrival of Al-Marba’aniyah, a key winter period, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
This year’s ceremony forms part of the Royal Commission for AlUla’s efforts to preserve cultural heritage and make it a part of contemporary public life.
The program features a range of activities highlighting the Tantora’s historic role and enduring significance. Visitors can expect traditional performances, artisan showcases, and sessions that explore how the Tantora was used, alongside demonstrations that evoke everyday life in AlUla’s past.
The event will deepen public understanding of the Tantora as one of AlUla’s most notable expressions of intangible heritage. By revisiting its connection to seasonal change, winter’s onset and agricultural preparation, the ceremony will shed light on the rhythms that once shaped life in the region.
Reviving the Tantora Ceremony reflects the commission’s commitment to encourage community participation and connect younger generations with AlUla’s historic legacy, the SPA added.
The commission said the celebration underscored AlUla’s dedication to protecting its assets and enhancing their role in sustainable development, in line with Saudi Vision 2030 and its core pillars of quality of life and balanced national growth.
The Winter at Tantora Festival runs until Jan. 10, and attractions include Old Town Nights, Shorfat Tantora, When Shadow Tracks Us, and the Al-Manshiyah Carnival.
In addition, there are guided tours of street art through the Old Town, special events commemorating the Year of Handicrafts, culinary experiences, and artistic and musical performances.
