Report: UAE to Appoint Ambassador to Lebanon after Salam's Visit

The United Arab Emirates is expected to reappoint an ambassador in Lebanon two years after keeping a low diplomatic representation in Beirut.

According to the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat published on Wednesday, Prime Minister and Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashed al-Maktoum informed PM Tammam Salam, who returned on Tuesday night from a two-day official visit to UAE, that his country will raise its diplomatic representation in Lebanon.

The newspaper said that the UAE will appoint a new ambassador to Lebanon to follow up matters of mutual interest.

In 2012, the UAE ambassador left Lebanon without any clear reason and since then the country is represented by the Charge d'Affaires, Hamad Mohammed al-Junaibi.

A Lebanese diplomatic source, who accompanied Salam in his trip, told the newspaper that the PM's visit helped in ending the misunderstandings between the two countries.

Salam stressed in comments published on Wednesday in al-Mustaqbal newspaper that his trip to UAE “restored the heat between the two countries.”

He expressed hope that his visit would contribute to fortifying the ties between the two countries.

A source considered in remarks to the daily that the “visit was successful, and restored the ties that were cut during Premier Najib Miqati's government.”

“During the tenure (of Miqati's) government the relations between Lebanon and UAE were mild and the gulf country didn't appoint an ambassador.”

H.K.

G.K.