Asiri Denies Saudi Arabia Delaying Arms Deal: We Will Not Back Down

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awadh Asiri downplayed Wednesday reports that his country froze a grant to the Lebanese army to purchase French weapons.

“The kingdom will not modify, change or back down” on the agreement, Asiri said in comments published in al-Mustaqbal newspaper.

Asiri stressed that he didn't receive any instructions in this regard.

“If the issue is technical and related to discussions between the Lebanese Army and French authorities or any other course linked to the delivery of arms, then the kingdom has nothing to do with that,” Asiri stressed

As Safir newspaper reported Tuesday that Saudi Arabia decided to freeze the deal over the rhetoric by some Lebanese officials, in particular Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, over it air-led war against Shiite Huthi rebels in Yemen.

French diplomatic sources said that France's chief of Staff General Jean-Pierre Bosser expressed belief that Saudi Arabia is delaying the accomplishment of the second delivery of French arms.

Saudi Arabia is leading an Arab coalition that launched an air war on the Huthi rebels and their allies in Yemen on March 26.

Nasrallah had slammed Saudi Arabia as the source of the “takfiri ideology” in the world, vowing that it will suffer a “major defeat” in the Yemeni conflict.

Sources told al-Joumhouria newspaper Wednesday that the “Saudi grant didn't halt and the reports are baseless.”

“The delay is due to a demand by the Lebanese Army to purchase heavy weapons... which need time to be manufactured.”

As Safir said in its report that Lebanese officials were supposed to schedule a new arms delivery with French counterparts to ship the second batch of arms.

However, Army chief General Jean Qahwaji, who visited Paris at the end of May, was surprised that French officials stalled the signing ceremony.

But Qahwaji denied making any statement concerning the matter.

In April, Lebanon received the first shipment of $3 billion worth of French arms under a Saudi-financed deal to boost the country's defensive capabilities to combat terror threats, along its northeastern border in particular.

France is expected to deliver 250 combat and transport vehicles, seven Cougar helicopters, three small Corvette warships and a range of surveillance and communications equipment over four years as part of the $3 billion (2.8 billion-euro) modernization program.

It is being entirely funded by Saudi Arabia, which is keen to see Lebanon's army defend its borders against jihadist groups, particularly the IS group and al-Nusra Front.

The contract also promises seven years of training for the 70,000-strong Lebanese army and 10 years of equipment maintenance.

Since the conflict in neighboring Syria broke out in 2011, Lebanon has faced mounting spill-over threats, first from the millions of refugees pouring across the border and increasingly from jihadists.

H.K.

G.K.

Comments 18
Default-user-icon LebExile (Guest) 03 June 2015, 09:20

Not really, more like saying - wait a minute, where do you get your information from??? Nasrallah isn't even a Lebanese official!!

Missing imagine_1979 03 June 2015, 09:22

"As Safir newspaper reported Tuesday that Saudi Arabia...."
Learn to read bla... Ur nick name suits to u well... Go chant some lobayka ya nosrollah, and put some ya hussein banners on ur car it would be so much different than the other retarded da3ech and co....

Missing humble 03 June 2015, 09:57

Jealous people of the Army wants to spread disinformation which harms the Army.

Default-user-icon + oua nabka + (Guest) 03 June 2015, 10:00

a grant without conditions is a support and help
a grant with conditions is corruption
god bless democracy

Thumb Mystic 03 June 2015, 10:01

Indeed, March 14 are the masters of lies and corruption. No wonder they take their orders from the Saudis.

Thumb -phoenix1 03 June 2015, 12:24

Mystic, don't let me be blunt with you by telling you who is the master of lies. Just let's not play nor doodle with words here.

Thumb Mystic 03 June 2015, 12:34

You are living off lies phoenix, you the so called proud phoenicians all of a sudden takes pride in Arabhood because you can smell their greasy dollars. Geagea likes to kiss Saudi hands, even though he is supposed to be the savior of christianity.

Thumb -phoenix1 03 June 2015, 12:47

Mystic, your anger can be sensed for miles away. I cannot understand why a Lebanese citizen can hate so much his own army. I cannot understand why a person seemingly smart enough can accuse his opponents of his own wrongdoings? Masalan me, Phoenix, I am happy like a kid in a candy store, the agreement between LF and the FPM is something I've been waiting for ages. My joy is doubled because my Lebanese Army will continue to receive its promised weapons, and as it grows stronger, my army will rid me of your militia for rent. I need not defend myself against your assertions, neither will I resort to profane your leadership because I am a lot more decent than you ya akhi. You feel like sticking to gutter language, fine by me bro, it's your choice. Then my Dollars come from my contracts in Africa, thanks God business is doing very very well. If you need a job, just apply.

Thumb Mystic 03 June 2015, 13:09

When did I ever state any hatred towards the LAF? The March 14 alliance is not the LAF Phoenix, even though you tend to be able to hold their arms behind their backs so they can't make any actions.

Missing humble 03 June 2015, 11:15

For Mystico it is ok to be a servant to Iran...he never says aything about being a khadim to Iran. The definition of a traitor is someone who is sold to an outside country, any country.

Thumb -phoenix1 03 June 2015, 12:22

Blabla, just like that person of whom you're another offshoot, you don't seem to read properly, so by default that make you the liar.

Thumb al.finique 03 June 2015, 13:18

blablablabla the shia cares more about the Christians than phoenix!!!!

Thumb -phoenix1 03 June 2015, 13:21

Blabla, now you have a new sibling in the name of khirfen.finique? Walaw ya habile, do you need to go so far down? Don't you think we know the trick of the trade, you want me to try and counter you in your ways? Don't you at least understand that we know who you are? Anyway, my person is none of your cares, and Bashir's avatar will remain for as long as I post on forums. Now YOU, the creator of Blablabla, and @khirfan.finique, and the new ones you will create in your same attempts to derail the forum, give it up, and just behave as normal people do.

Thumb -phoenix1 03 June 2015, 13:34

Blabla, when you want to troll, the first thing to do is to watch that IP, even if hidden under layers, it can still be traced. Then the style of language, the character and nature of the typography, the human element, the attack on the person, the way you put a person in your mind-frame, the way you all-too-readily try to exonerate yourself, even that LOL of yours, these are all too easy to decipher. Then those down flags, the calculus is so simple, in just a few seconds we M14ers get each over 4, within seconds?!! My advice to you is just be a normal being, debate, if you can with respect and you'll discover the numerous advantages of intelligent opinion exchanges with civilized people. If you can, it will elevate you. But it all starts with that IP, you're doing a very poor job here. Naharnet knows what I am talking about.

Thumb canadianpaul 03 June 2015, 12:24

Eat your hearts out M8:
كدت مصادر مطلعة لموقعنا، انه وبحسب معلومات وردت من السلطات الفرنسية تقاطعت مع ما تملكه السلطات اللبنانية من معطيات، فان صفقة السلاح الفرنسي لم يتم توقيفها، انما لا تزال في مراحلها التنفيذية والادارية، خاصة وان الصفقة الكبيرة بحجمها تتطلب الكثير من الاعمال الادارية والبيروقراطية، علماً ان الفريق العامل فيها قدر بحوالي 72 موظفاً يتوزعون بين لبنانيين وفرنسيين. اضافت المصادر ان الصفقة مستمرة ولن تتوقف، وان الجانب السعودي مستمر بالتمويل وملتزم بالامور الاجرائية لبدء الانتاج ونقل السلاح الى الجيش اللبناني.

It's funny, they claim to support the army... as long as it's under Iranian/Syrian boots.

Thumb -phoenix1 03 June 2015, 12:26

Well, so much for those who ranted about this whole deal, now that it's back on track, let's move ahead, the jubilation of the LF/FPM accord of yesterday is joy enough to be preserved. Now Mr. Assiri confirms Saudi commitment to our army, what could be better. We've a nation to build, let not any detractor stand between our future and us.

Thumb -phoenix1 03 June 2015, 13:25

Blabla, if Assiri is lying, then what do you think you're doing, telling the truth? Lol, ask your little sibling, @khirfan.finique, surely he should know the answer.

Thumb -phoenix1 03 June 2015, 16:38

Blabla, you are traceable just as I told you. You can come from Planet Mars, the rules of engagement are clear for everyone, what they teach you at any Lebanese university of for that matter abroad are the same. But what you should know for yourself is a simple matter, that you cannot come and say whatever you want to people that disagree with your views, such are not diplomas any univ will accredit you with, this is something that you either have or don't period. Your kind of people are what upset people who voice their opinions and with if I may ask? With the way you tantalize opposing voices. Now whether you troll or not is a thing you alone can remedy, but to behave in an ethical attitude is something that is what makes of you a happy medium. Just my drift.