Hariri, Geagea, Jumblat Attend Inauguration of King Salman Avenue in Beirut

A ceremony to inaugurate the King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Avenue was held Tuesday evening in Beirut's Minet El Hosn area, in the presence of Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea and Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat.

Saudi royal envoy Nizar al-Aloula and Saudi charge d'affaires in Lebanon Walid al-Bukhari attended the ceremony.

According to Lebanon's National News Agency, the avenue stretches from the Four Seasons Hotel Beirut in Minet El Hosn to the seaside Zaitunay Bay area. It has a length of 1.3 kilometers and a width of 45 meters.

Speaking at the ceremony, Bukhari said “Saudi Arabia has always been and will always be keen on Lebanon's safety, security, stability and national unity.”

“We laud the efforts of President Michel Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Saad Hariri in consolidating the pillars of peace despite the difficulties,” the Saudi envoy added.

“The Saudi-Lebanese ties are deep-rooted and will remain deep-rooted like cedars,” Bukhari went on to say.

Hariri for his part said Beirut is “honoring a great Arab leader who has stood by Lebanon during the most difficult circumstances.”

"Between Lebanon and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia there is a history that will never be broken, no matter how much they try. This Beiruti evening is a clear message that Lebanon's Arab identity comes before all loyalties, axes and equations,” Hariri added.

Beirut Municipality sources told al-Akhbar newspaper in remarks published Tuesday that the decision to name an avenue after King Salman “was taken by the municipal council following a suggestion from its chief Jamal Itani, who fulfilled a wish from the Saudi charge d'affaires in this regard.”

Sources loyal to al-Mustaqbal Movement said the move is part of efforts to “strengthen the Lebanese-Saudi historic ties.”

Beirut's municipality had in 2005 named Beirut's new seaside corniche after late Saudi King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz.