RIYADH: Saudi Arabia sees no point in engaging with Lebanon’s government until its politicians confront the malign influence of Hezbollah and Iran, the Kingdom’s foreign minister has said.
Prince Faisal bin Farhan’s remarks have dashed hopes in Beirut of a solution to the deepening diplomatic rift with Riyadh, as Lebanon struggles with political paralysis and a collapsing economy.
“We see no useful purpose in engaging with the Lebanese government at this point in time,” Prince Faisal told France 24 television in an interview.
“We think that the political class needs to step up and take the necessary actions to liberate Lebanon from the domination of Hezbollah, and through Hezbollah, Iran.”
Lebanon is facing its worst diplomatic crisis yet with Gulf states, spurred by a minister’s critical comments about the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen that prompted Riyadh to expel Lebanon’s ambassador, recall its own envoy and ban all imports from Lebanon.
The Kingdom was angered by an interview in which Lebanon’s newly appointed Information Minister George Kordahi, a former TV game show host, sided with the Houthi militia and said Yemen was being subjected to external aggression.
Kordahi said the interview was recorded before he became a minister and has refused to apologize or step down, despite pressure from Prime Minister Najib Mikati.
Riyadh has said its actions were driven not just by Kordahi’s comments, but also its objection to Hezbollah’s influence in Lebanese politics.
No point in engagement with Lebanon, says Saudi Arabia
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No point in engagement with Lebanon, says Saudi Arabia
Saudi Cabinet reviews cooperation and agreements with other nations
- Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman chairs meeting and briefs ministers on his recent meeting with Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi
- Cooperative efforts includes projects focusing on development and education, political consultations, environmental protection, health, investment and air transport
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Council of Ministers reviewed a number of domestic and international matters during a session in Jeddah on Tuesday chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The crown prince briefed the Cabinet on his recent meeting with the Egyptian president, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, which included discussions about regional security and stability, the latest developments in the Middle East, and other topics of importance to the Arab and Islamic world, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
He also shared with ministers the contents of a letter he received from the president of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
The council discussed progress in cooperative efforts involving Saudi Arabia and other countries including Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Armenia, Turkmenistan, Estonia, Cuba and Kiribati, and approved a number of memorandums of understanding.
The cooperation includes projects focusing on development and education, political consultations, environmental protection, health, investment and air-transport services, the press agency said. Ministers also approved an agreement between the Saudi General Authority for Awqaf and its Omani counterpart relating to endowments.
They reviewed national initiatives, including one for the promotion of charitable work, and the enhancement of humanitarian and developmental efforts across the country.
A merger of the National Competitiveness Center with the Saudi Center for Economic Business to create a combined Saudi Competitiveness and Business Center was authorized.
