Report: Aoun-Hariri Meeting Not Anytime Soon

Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun and al-Mustaqbal movement chief ex-PM Saad Hariri are in continuous contact but a meeting between them is not near, al-Joumhouria newspaper reported on Thursday.

Contacts between Aoun and Hariri have not been cut, it said, adding that their relations are based on direct talks or envoys.

The daily quoted FPM officials as saying that if a meeting between Aoun and Hariri was held, it would be announced.

Hariri traveled to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to discuss with Saudi officials the latest grant to the Lebanese army and security forces.

He made a surprise return to Lebanon last week after three years abroad.

His trip follows his announcement that Saudi Arabia, one of his chief allies, would give $1 billion to shore up the army and security forces against jihadists.

During his visit to Beirut, he held talks with top Lebanese officials. But a meeting with Aoun was not on his agenda.

G.K.

H.K.