Berri Praises Abdullah and Hariri, Urges Fulfillment of Army's Demands
Speaker Nabih Berri has praised Saudi King Abdullah for pledging to accelerate delivery of weapons to the Lebanese army under a Saudi-financed deal and lauded al-Mustaqbal movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri over his stance on the fighting in the northeastern border town of Arsal.
Abdullah's pledge “came as a result of phone conversations I made with Saudi officials to mobilize the $3 billion Saudi grant,” Berri told his visitors.
His remarks were published in several newspapers that hit the newsstands on Wednesday.
Last December, Saudi Arabia agreed to finance a $3 billion deal to purchase military equipment and weapons from France for Lebanon's army, which has long complained of being sorely under-equipped.
Asked by his visitors about Hariri's latest stance, Berri described it as “good” and said: “What concerns me is supporting the army in men and in arms.”
Hariri on Tuesday reiterated his firm support to the Lebanese army in its battle against terrorism.
“Our support to the army against gunmen who infiltrated Arsal is steadfast,” Hariri said in a statement issued by his press office.
On Wednesday, he revealed that Saudi Arabia has provided the army with additional one billion dollars to strengthen security.
King Abdullah "has informed me of his generous decision to provide the Lebanese army... with one billion dollars to strengthen its capabilities to preserve Lebanon's security," Hariri told reporters in Jeddah.
The army is engaged in battles with terrorists in Arsal since Saturday.
The fighting marks the first time that the rebels battling Syrian President Bashar Assad have carried out a large-scale incursion into Lebanon. The clashes have left scores of soldiers dead and wounded.
According to Wednesday's dailies, Berri told his visitors that he asked the U.S., Saudi and European Union ambassadors to back the army and fulfill Gen. Jean Qahwaji’s demands for financial, military and logistical assistance.
“No one should allege that the army can't be provided with advanced weaponry because of Israel. We are today in another battle, against terrorism,” he said.
The army does not abide by political settlements in Arsal. “It knows what it is doing,” Berri added.
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