Asiri: Suleiman to Tackle Regional, International Developments during Visit to Saudi Arabia
Saudi Ambassador Ali Awadh Asiri stressed on Monday that President Michel Suleiman's visit to Saudi Arabia is not linked to the Lebanese cabinet formation or the presidency's term, which ends in May 2014.
“The visit of Suleiman is to tackle the latest regional and international developments and their impact on the situation in Lebanon,” Asiri said in comments published in As Safir newspaper.
He pointed out that Saudi Arabia is seeking to maintain stability in Lebanon and to unite the political foes, stressing that all-party-talks should resume to stabilize the country amid the ongoing challenges.
Asked if Suleiman will return from Saudi Arabia and for a de-facto cabinet with Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam, Asiri said that “the cabinet formation is a local Lebanese affair.”
“Saudi Arabia doesn't interfere in Lebanese affairs,” he noted,
Suleiman said in comments published in the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Saturday that he will not discuss the government formation process during his upcoming trip to Saudi Arabia.
According to the newspaper's report, Suleiman is seeking to distance Saudi Arabia from local Lebanese disputes by refusing to tackle this file.
Suleiman is scheduled to hold talks with King Abdullah during his one-day official visit to Riyadh on Monday.
He stressed on Saturday that he will not discuss the cabinet crisis during his visit to the kingdom.
Salam has faced conditions and counter conditions set by the rival parties, failing to form his new cabinet after more than seven months of efforts.
But Salam said this week that he was still patient and optimistic that he could come up with a line-up.
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