Report: Positive Outcomes Expected from Suleiman's Upcoming Trip to Saudi Arabia

President Michel Suleiman is expected to travel to Saudi Arabia this week after he received assurances from Saudi officials that the “kingdom's doors are always open to him,” reported al-Joumhouria newspaper on Monday.

Sources from the presidential palace told the daily: “The outcomes of the visit are expected to be positive because Saudi Arabia was the one who requested Suleiman's presence in the kingdom.”

They added it sought to reschedule the trip after it had previously canceled a planned visit in September due to Suleiman's participated at the United Nations General Assembly and due to the kingdom's preoccupation with the developments between the United States and Iran, reported As Safir newspaper on Monday.

The president received a telephone call on Thursday from Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awadh Asiri and later Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal, who informed him that Suleiman is always welcome in the kingdom and who apologized for the cancellation of the previous trip.

The presidential palace sources told al-Joumhouria that Suleiman's visit to Saudi Arabia is “necessary in order to maintain the stable ties between Lebanon and the kingdom.”

Suleiman seeks to return to Lebanon with positive developments over the formation of a new government and that he will not come back to Beirut “empty-handed,” added the sources.

Al-Joumhouria revealed that Saudi Arabia had invited Suleiman to visit on Tuesday, but his engagements to the launch of a campaign to help the SOS Children's Villages and the launch of the judicial year led to the postponement of the visit.