Beirut - Marwa Shaheen - Beth:

Arab and Lebanese diplomatic sources confirmed to one of the local Lebanese newspapers that the Saudi ambassador, Walid Al-Bukhari, will return to Beirut at the end of this week or before the start of the month of Ramadan at the beginning of next April at the latest, so that this return will be the first fruits of the Saudi position and the first product of the Kuwaiti initiative that opened a loophole in Relations between Lebanon and the Gulf Cooperation Council.

A senior political source revealed that the plan of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was coordinated, and Ambassador Bukhari paved the way for it in his invitation yesterday morning, in anticipation of the issuance of an important statement by the Saudi Foreign Ministry. Announcing clear intentions by the Gulf, led by the Kingdom, for the return of the policy of openness towards Lebanon, which is a positive sign.

He stressed, “This move is positive, especially since Kuwait originally did not have a problem with Prime Minister Saad Hariri, but the general Gulf position has become convinced that closing the doors in the face of Lebanon no longer serves the politics in the region. This is a real turn, albeit a slow one. It can be built on in the foreseeable future, as it touches a decision to preserve the stability of political life and facilitate the holding of the Lebanese parliamentary elections.”

And the Arab Kingdom had summoned its ambassador to Beirut and asked the Lebanese ambassador to leave Riyadh and decided to stop all Lebanese imports to it, after statements by a Lebanese minister dealing with the war in Yemen. Saudi Arabia is an insulting statement.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry considered these statements a clear bias towards the terrorist Houthi militia that threatens the security and stability of the region.

In addition to Hezbollah’s control of decision-making in Lebanon, the kingdom is exposed to many hostile activities originating from Hezbollah that are harmful to Saudi Arabia, including support for the Houthis, drug smuggling, and political statements.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati affirmed his government’s commitment to good relations with Saudi Arabia and called on Arab partners to help overcome the crisis. He always assures that he will continue to work to repair relations.

In his statement yesterday, Mikati announced the government’s commitment to restore relations between Lebanon and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries to normal, stressing that “the contact that took place between him and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait, Sheikh Ahmed Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah, is in this context.” Appeals received from various political, religious and economic leaders in this context. He said: “I renew the Lebanese government’s commitment to take the necessary and required measures to enhance cooperation with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and Lebanon’s commitment to all decisions of the League of Arab States and international legitimacy.” Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, their security and stability, which emanates from Lebanon.”

Mikati affirmed Lebanon’s commitment to the Riyadh Agreement for Judicial Cooperation and Extradition to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, stressing that the Lebanese government will work to prevent the use of Lebanese financial and banking channels to conduct any financial transactions that may harm the security of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

After the statement of Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that it welcomed the positive points contained in Mikati’s statement, and expressed its hope that this would contribute to the restoration of Lebanon’s role and status in the Arab world and internationally.

The Saudi statement affirmed that the Kingdom aspires for Lebanon to enjoy security and peace, and for the Lebanese people to enjoy stability, safety, growth and prosperity in their homeland.