Report: Abou Faour Back from 'Non-Productive' Visit to Saudi Arabia over Presidency File

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Health Minister Wael Abou Faour briefed Speaker Nabih Berri and al-Mustaqbal Movement chief ex-PM Saad Hariri on his latest visit to Saudi Arabia that failed to bring a decisive answer as for the Saudi stance with regard to the nomination of MP Michel Aoun, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Tuesday.

“Abou Faour met with a high-level Saudi figure during his visit to the Saudi kingdom two days ago,” well-informed sources told the daily on condition of anonymity.

The name of the Saudi figure was not disclosed.

Discussions between Abou Faour, who was dispatched by Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat, and the Saudi official focused on the developments in Lebanon and the region, especially those related to the presidential elections.

The sources added: “The Saudi official has affirmed to Abou Faour that the Kingdom and its leadership stand with the people of Lebanon, and is keen on their security and on the compatibility between the Lebanese themselves in order to preserve Lebanon's unity, sovereignty and stability at all levels.”

“The Saudi leadership has registered firm positions with regard to the situation in Lebanon and will not interfere in the Lebanese internal affair. They have to work together in order to reach understandings and solutions for several issues without any external interference. They are responsible for the decisions they take,” the sources added.

On the other hand, al-Akhbar daily said that although Abou Faour's visit did not bring anything new from Saudi Arabia, but the daily obtained information that the the Saudi figure that met the Minister did not give any decisive answer as for his country's position on the developments of the Lebanese presidential file.

Abou Faour was quoted as saying that the atmospheres were negative as for Hariri's intention to nominate Aoun.

Lebanon has been without a president since the term of Michel Suleiman ended in May 2014 and Hizbullah, Aoun's Change and Reform bloc and some of their allies have been boycotting the parliament's electoral sessions, stripping them of the needed quorum.

Hariri's recent return to Lebanon has triggered a flurry of rumors and media reports about a possible presidential settlement and the possibility that the former premier has finally decided to endorse Free Patriotic Movement founder MP Michel Aoun for the presidency in a bid to break the deadlock.

Hariri, who is close to Saudi Arabia, launched an initiative in late 2015 to nominate Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh for the presidency but his proposal was met with reservations from the country's main Christian parties as well as Hizbullah.

The supporters of Aoun's presidential bid argue that he is more eligible than Franjieh to become president due to the size of his parliamentary bloc and his bigger influence in the Christian community.

SourceNaharnet
Comments 6
Missing un520 11 October 2016, 10:00

Saudi: "We will not interfere in the election of a president in Lebanon, but the atmosphere for Michel Aouns bid is negative" So much for neutrality, or is it Jumblatts envoy who choose to twist the words?

Thumb galaxy 11 October 2016, 14:25

do you think KSA is interfering in the presidential elections by having all its supporters like mustaqbal attend every presidential election to date?

Missing un520 11 October 2016, 16:20

No, on the contrary. I think that Juamblatts man is twisting the words.

Missing humble 11 October 2016, 10:09

The only way for Lebanon to become a prosperous country is total Neutrality.
Do you know who opposes Neutrality? Ebola and the Caporal.
We can understand Ebola who wants to create Teheran-on-Sea, but why this Caporal? Why??

Missing humble 11 October 2016, 10:40

To all supporters of the Caporal: "what do yo say today when you see the general of generals begging and kissing the hands"???

Default-user-icon the-roar (Guest) 11 October 2016, 12:55

General Aoun and Walid Junblatt are the only two world leaders working for Lebanon's interest at the this stage... the rest nah..