Bukhari Meets Qabalan, Says 'No Enmity with Shiite Sect'

Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid Bukhari held talks Monday with Shiite religious leader Sheikh Ahmed Qabalan, who is the country’s grand Jaafarite mufti and the son of Sheikh Abdul Amir Qabalan, the head of the Higher Islamic Shiite Council.

The talks, at Qabalan’s office, tackled “the local and regional situations and means to boost cooperation between the two brotherly countries,” Lebanon’s National News Agency said.

Speaking after the meeting, Bukhari said: “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia performs its duties towards Lebanon without discriminating among its sects and groups.”

“There is no rivalry nor enmity with the sons of the dear Shiite sect,” the ambassador added.

Qabalan for his part called on Saudi Arabia to play an “active role” to resolve Lebanon’s crisis, warning that the “let Lebanon fall” idea would have “disastrous consequences.”

“KSA has been a brotherly country and an aide in the Lebanese memory and it must remain so, instead of turning into a political party,” Qabalan added.