Report: Saudi Minister's Visit Not Intended to 'Bless' Aoun's Election
Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries did not turn their back on Lebanon and stand at an equal distance from all Lebanese parties and candidates in the presidential race, An Nahar daily reported on Friday.
“The visit of the Saudi State Minister for Gulf Affairs Thamer al-Sabhan is not meant to give Saudi Arabia's “blessing” for the expected election of MP Michel Aoun as president, nor to make a position, but rather to inform political leaders in Lebanon that Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States are still interested in Lebanon and to slam reports that they turned their back on the country,” well-informed sources told the daily.
“Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries are not biased in favor of a presidential candidate over another, but stand at an equal distance from all parties. They also support Lebanese consensus and the regularity of the State and the restoration of the State institutions. They do not interfere in Lebanon's internal and sovereign affairs,” added the source on condition of anonymity.
Sabhan arrived in Beirut Thursday for talks with Lebanese officials, a few days before a Monday presidential vote that is expected to see the election of Free Patriotic Movement founder MP Michel Aoun as the country's new president.
Al-Akhbar newspaper had reported Wednesday that Sabhan will express the kingdom's support for Hariri's presidential initiative, which was indirectly denied by An Nahar sources.
Aoun was tipped to become president after Hariri formally endorsed him last week.
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, who is close to Saudi Arabia, had launched an initiative in late 2015 to nominate Hizbullah's ally and 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 have argued 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.
Source: Naharnet
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