Bassil Begins Europe Tour, Says Lebanon Won't Discuss Any File before PM Return
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil has flown to Brussels on the first leg of a European tour that aims to rally support for Lebanon's stability following Prime Minister Saad Hariri's contentious resignation from Saudi Arabia.
“Lebanon is still addressing the problem with Saudi Arabia within the framework of brotherly bilateral ties and the tour is to urge the kingdom to realize that what's happening is unacceptable,” Bassil said after arriving in Brussels.
“Prime Minister Saad Hariri's resignation did not meet the legal requirements... and we will not discuss any issue until Hariri returns” from Saudi Arabia, Bassil added.
He warned that “threats of governmental and political vacuum and sanctions against Lebanon will not only affect the Lebanese but also two million refugees and displaced people, who will become a problem for Lebanon's neighbors and Europe.”
As for the Arab League's upcoming meeting in Cairo, Bassil said “Lebanese authorities will take a stance ahead of the meeting in light of (this week's) developments.” The meeting of the Arab foreign ministers will be held Sunday in Cairo.
Bassil later held talks in Brussels with EU diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini.
According to Lebanon's National News Agency, Mogherini stressed the European Union's support for Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity, emphasizing that no foreign state should interfere in its domestic affairs.
Mogherini also underscored the need for the return of Hariri and his family to Lebanon in the coming days in order to fortify internal stability and national unity in Lebanon, NNA said.
A statement from Mogherini's office said "close contacts will continue also with prime minister Hariri, through the EU’s diplomatic channels: High Representative/Vice-President Mogherini expects him and his family to return to Lebanon in the coming days."
President Aoun has refused to accept Hariri's Nov. 4 resignation, which came abruptly and under mysterious circumstances from the Saudi capital, Riyadh, until Hariri returns to the country.
Lebanese officials have insisted the resignation was forced by Hariri's Saudi patrons and that he is being kept in the kingdom against his will. Hariri said Tuesday that he'll return to Lebanon within days.
Bassil will visit Paris after his talks in Brussels.
The visit aims to rally diplomatic support and explain Lebanon's predicament following Hariri's move.
14 November 2017, 13:14
07
Bassil is not rallying support for Lebanon's stability. What he is doing is telling the Europeans that Hariri is under house arrest and asking the Europeans to apply pressure to release him.
It is also the shopping season before X-mas and he and his advisors went on a shopping tour.
14 November 2017, 13:56
05
"the_roar:
Today you listened to the future president of Lebanon... Learn people learn."
14 November 2017, 14:04
19
Never has Lebanon seen an Iranian Foreign Minister like this one, ever!
14 November 2017, 14:09
05
ريفي: جولة باسيل صاروخ ديبلوماسي إيراني موجَّه للسعودية
صدر عن اللواء أشرف ريفي الآتي:
نعتبر أن الجولة الأوروبية للوزير في الحكومة المستقيلة جبران باسيل، تهدف الى تزوير الحقائق بخصوص إستقالة الرئيس سعد الحريري، فباسيل يلعب دور وزير خارجية “حزب الله”، وهو يستكمل الصاروخ الذي أطلقه “حزب الله” على الرياض، بصواريخ دبلوماسية إيرانية تستهدف السعودية، وبدلاً من أن يكون وزيراً لخارجية لبنان، تراه يعمل لإضفاء الغطاء على النفوذ الايراني الذي يتخذ من لبنان قاعدة لاستهداف العالم العربي.
14 November 2017, 15:21
15
Rallying support is good, but it's give and take. So, what will he answer when they ask him about a roadmap for the disarmament of Hezbollah ?
14 November 2017, 15:43
05
Here is what everybody needs to know:
1) KSA found out that certain highly sensitive information was leaked to Iran and Hezbollah
2) Hariri was indeed questioned in KSA but was not put under house arrest
3) Nader Hariri was the one who started the rumor of Hariri's arrest in KSA and told Bassil of the same the evening Hariri resigned
4) KSA traced the leaked information back to Nader Hariri
5) Nader Hariri is involved in billions of dollars of shady deals with Bassil. Both have shared companies 2 of which were recently established in the Oil and Gas business.
6) Nobody was summoned from the Hariri family to KSA contrary to all claims.
7) Nader Hariri has been spearheading the campaign against KSA within Future movement along with his cronies.
8) Nader Hariri has been passing on information to hezbollah during the tens of coordination meetings between Future & Hezbollah. KSA traced the leaks to his person.
14 November 2017, 16:40
05
yes ya troll he was questioned about the highly sensitive information that was leaked to hezbollah and Iran; information that only Hariri and Nader knew of.
14 November 2017, 18:26
03
وهل أقنعه بالاسباب التي دفعته الى الاستقالة، أجاب الراعي: “من قال لكم انني غير مقتنع؟ أنا مقتنع كل الاقتناع بالاسباب، والرئيس الحريري اعلن في مقابلته التلفزيونية انه على استعداد للعودة عن الاستقالة والاستمرار بالقيام بدوره، وعليه ان يتحدث مع رئيس الجمهورية ورئيس مجلس النواب والقيادات السياسية بالاسباب التي دفعته الى الاستقالة، فالرئيس الحريري على استعداد لمواصلة لخدمته لهذا الوطن حيث دماء والده”.
14 November 2017, 20:02
00
Any link for those who don't speak Arabic ?
(both English and French are fine)
Since 2/2013 I've been running a topic on Lebanon on one of the largest Croatian forums (at the time I started the topic I was living in the French Caribbean, hence @antilles) and would like to mention some of your assertions but I need a source.
http://www.forum.hr/showthread.php?t=765315
Btw, what does Saad's nephew (if that is who Nader is) stand to gain by betraying him ?
14 November 2017, 20:50
02
what does Saad's nephew (if that is who Nader is) stand to gain by betraying him ?
who knows..... promise by 'someone' he would replace Saad maybe? You never know the real motives but the hunger for power is universal.
Additionally there is speculation that Nadir Al Hariri was angry at Saudi Arabia for not helping him out financially when he was facing a similar financial crisis to Saad.
Again, I have no concrete evidence here and I am speculating. But ex-fpm has put forward a very plausible scenario here.
As to the paragraph in Arabic that I posted it quotes Patriarch Al Rahi saying he is absolutely convinced of Hariri's reasons for the resignation after meeting with hariri in Riyadh.
14 November 2017, 20:54
02
Another thing to consider is what the Saudi minister mentioned a few days ago that he would reveal the name of the troublemaker "that sold out the Lebanese people and their interests". That indicates something close or similar to what ex-fpm posted above.
15 November 2017, 06:24
02
s.o.s
sorry, but they are a bunch of useless, inept, and corrupt politicians.
15 November 2017, 17:43
01
Don't apologize Liberty. I know lots of personal stuff about the Hariri family and especially about Bahia. You'd hate the family if you heard them.
14 November 2017, 16:48
06
A complete restructuring of Future movement will shortly ensue and big heads will roll including present and former ministers.
KSA indicated to Hariri that Future movement must be representative of sunnis regardless of their allegiance to Hariri.
The attempt on Hariri's life was real.
Nader Hariri was behind the appointment of the son of a hezbollah official as personal advisor to Imad Kreidieh the head of Ogero despite the fact this 'son' has no knowledge of anything regarding the Telecom ministry.
The attempt on Hariri's life was traced to Telecom towers being sabotaged.
You make your own conclusions.
14 November 2017, 17:30
06
Aoun has legalized everything that is illegal.
In his last speech commemorating his first year in office he said :" The circumstances are not ripe yet for combating corruption"
14 November 2017, 17:50
03
LOL yes but his people are ghanam. They can't think... they follow blindly.
14 November 2017, 18:27
04
We do have an anti corruption minister but he is an Aouni appointed by Aoun. Good Luck!
14 November 2017, 18:32
04
EU diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini represents 28 countries and had 5 people with her at the meeting.
Bassil represents hezbollah and the FPM and had 4 people with him.
14 November 2017, 21:09
03
Thx, @justin.
Hopefully, in a few days we'll all know a bit more as to how and why.
