Suleiman Discusses with Saudi King National Dialogue, Travel Warning
President Michel Suleiman held talks with Saudi King Abdullah in Jeddah on Friday, more than a week after the monarch announced his support for the National Dialogue that the Lebanese head of state had called for.
The talks were attended by the Lebanese official delegation accompanying Suleiman, including Public Works Minister Ghazi Aridi.
Saudi officials, including Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal and the ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awadh Assiri, were also present.
Suleiman set the date for the National Dialogue on June 11 in an attempt to prevent the country from sliding into sectarian strife following deadly gunbattles between pro- and anti-Syrian gunmen in Beirut and the northern city of Tripoli.
King Abdullah said in a letter he sent to Suleiman on May 22 that the kingdom is monitoring the situation in Lebanon with “deep concern.”
“We look forward to you ending the crisis, which may spiral into sectarian strife,” Abdullah told Suleiman in the letter.
He also urged Suleiman to end the crisis through his call for national dialogue and keenness to keep Lebanon away from regional disputes, most notably the Syrian crisis.
Media reports said the president’s discussions with Abdullah focused on the National Dialogue and the travel advisory of four Gulf countries..
Later on Friday, Suleiman took part in a lunch banquet thrown in his honor by the Saudi foreign minister. Former premier Saad Hariri also attended the banquet.
Suleiman will visit Kuwait on Sunday in an attempt to persuade its leaders to review the travel warning to Lebanon.
The United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain have also advised their citizens to avoid travel to Lebanon and urged their nationals currently present in the country to leave due to the unstable security situation.
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