Arab Gulf Ambassadors Meet al-Rahi: No Lebanese Have Been Illegally Deported
The ambassadors of the Arab Gulf countries held talks on Thursday with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, during which they acknowledged the emergence of differences with Beirut on some issues.
They said from Bkirki: “The Gulf countries have not deported any Lebanese without a legal or constitutional basis.”
“It is true that some differences have emerged but we believe that they are temporary,” they added.
“There is no diplomatic crisis with Lebanon,” they stressed.
The meeting was attended by Saudi Ambassador Ali Awadh Asiri, Kuwaiti Ambassador Abdul Aal al-Qinai, United Arab Emirates Ambassador Hamad bin Saeed al-Shamsi, and Qatari Ambassador Ali Bin Hamad al-Miri. The ambassador of Oman was unable to attend due to a sudden emergency, said the National News Agency without giving further details.
Saudi Arabia earlier this year halted a grant to Lebanese army in wake of Hizbullah's virulent stances against the kingdom over its role in the region.
Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil also abstained from voting in favor of Arab resolutions that condemned attacks against the Saudi embassy in Tehran earlier this year.
Riyadh consequently halted the grant and issued a travel advisory for its citizens against heading to Lebanon.
Gulf countries also followed suit and a number of them also deported Lebanese expatriates who are affiliated with Hizbullah, which the Gulf Cooperation Council has deemed as terrorist.
“The dispute with Lebanon will remain as long as Hizbullah persists on its stances,” stressed the ambassadors from Bkirki.
They also highlighted the need for Lebanon to elect a president.
For his part, al-Rahi emphasized the “continuation of the friendship between Lebanon and the Gulf.”
“It is unfortunate that a passing cloud has tarnished some of the ties with some of your countries,” he added.
M.T.
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://naharnet.com/stories/en/207051 |