Diplomats: Sisi Likely to Announce Military Grant to Lebanon during Salam Visit
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is expected to announce Egypt's backing for the Lebanese army during a meeting with Prime Minister Tammam Salam in Cairo next week, Arab diplomats said Thursday.
The diplomats, who were not identified, told al-Joumhouria newspaper that Sisi could announce his country's readiness to assist the military institution through a grant, which would set the stage for a visit of a Lebanese army delegation to Cairo.
Salam's talks with Sisi and his Egyptian counterpart Ibrahim Mahlab next Wednesday are also likely to focus on the fate of Egyptian arms that Cairo had promised to deliver to Lebanon during visits made by al-Mustaqbal movement leader Saad Hariri and Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq last year.
The talks for Egypt to hand over the weapons to Lebanon were as part of a grant that late Saudi King Abdullah had made to help the Lebanese army and security forces confront the wave of terrorism striking the country.
The sources told the newspaper that Sisi would announce his backing to the Lebanese government and call for political and security stability in the country.
He is also expected to make an initiative aimed at facilitating the election of a new president to end the paralysis of constitutional institutions, the diplomats said.
Baabda Palace has been vacant since President Michel Suleiman's six-year tenure ended in May last year.
Salam is likely to decide over the weekend which cabinet ministers and advisers will accompany him to Egypt, the sources added.
G.K.
H.K.
11 June 2015, 12:30
12
This is when you know who your real friends are. Egypt, despite the many challenges it's facing, has shown that it can stand with the owners of right and justice. Though not yet official, but it is heard in the corridors that Egypt may well sign a defense treaty with us, or something of the like, but of course, let's wait till it happens.
11 June 2015, 15:49
00
You're right, but Egypt did not do this out of support to Lebanon. If you read the end of the article you would notice that late king of Saudi is the one who granted LF these weapon.
11 June 2015, 13:21
12
@whyaskwhy, of course I understand the wryness of your sarcasm, nothing wrong with that either. But joke apart, our army needs to get as much support from its friends as possible. Egypt's army remain the one single most powerful army of both the Arab world and the African continent to which it also belongs. It's army boasts weaponry as modern as the best armies. Egypt's army is a well-oiled machine and its weight cannot be discounted at any moment. It's not like we're begging for charity, on the contrary, our army is building bridges with capable armies, preparing for protocols to be signed for the benefit and safety of our nation in the first instance. Trust me, our army is doing things right nowadays. Let's stand behind it, and a great PM doing a sterling job. The president too will come soon.
