Suleiman, Hariri, Aridi, Asiri Deny LBC Report on their Meeting in Saudi Arabia
President Michel Suleiman, former Premier Saad Hariri, Transportation and Public Works Minister Ghazi al-Aridi, and Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awadh Asiri denied LBC’s report on Monday on their meeting with Saudi King Abdullah in Riyadh held earlier in June, reported al-Mustaqbal daily on Tuesday.
Suleiman adamantly denied to the daily the report, wondering: “I know what I have said … Is it possible for the president of Lebanon to request Saudi mediation with Israel on any matter?”
“I cannot possibly make such a request and such remarks cannot be made to the king of Saudi Arabia,” he stressed.
“I have always said that there will be no need for the arms once Israel withdraws from the Shebaa Farms and the Kfarshouba hills,” he added.
“I reiterated this position during my latest meeting with the army command,” explained the president.
For his part, Hariri said in a statement: “The minutes of this report have been fabricated and the alleged facts mentioned are completely baseless.”
He questioned the timing of the report, which was broadcast simultaneously with the resumption of the national dialogue on Monday.
Aridi meanwhile slammed “the fabricated report,” saying that it seeks to harm the national dialogue and Lebanese-Saudi relations.
They also harm Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal, who was also present at the talks and “who did not utter a single word of what was mentioned in the report.”
“The report reflects poorly on the president whose position during the visit was completely honest to all Saudi officials and appreciative of the kingdom’s stance on the national dialogue,” he continued.
“Saudi Arabia has been keen on protecting Lebanon and ensuring its stability and safety,” he added.
Aridi also denied the remarks that were attributed to Hariri during the Riyadh meeting.
“If only someone would have asked us about the meeting. We would have honestly replied to them,” he concluded.
Asiri also slammed the LBC report, saying that it is “unfortunate for a television station, renowned for its transparency, to broadcast such a report.”
“Saudi Arabia’s position is clear and the cable sent to Suleiman from King Abdullah is the true reflection of the kingdom’s stance,” he explained in a statement.
In addition, the ambassador denied the remarks attributed to al-Faisal, stating that “there are witnesses who were present at the meeting who can attest to that, starting with Suleiman.”
The Saudi foreign minister is “renowned for his honesty and he does not need to say them behind closed doors,” he said.
Asiri declared: “It seems that some sides are seeking to hamper the national dialogue in Lebanon. Whoever fabricated this report is the enemy of Lebanon’s stability.”
“Saudi Arabia has long been supportive of Lebanon, seeking to bridge difference between its various factions and the Taef accord is a testament to this position,” he stressed.
“Everyone keen on Lebanon should act responsibly and contribute in easing tensions in the country and not fabricate scenarios that cannot be farther from the truth,” he said.
LBC had broadcast a report on Monday claiming that Suleiman had requested al-Faisal’s mediation with Israel to demarcate its border with Lebanon, saying: “Talk to the Israelis over the border demarcation. Syria is busy with its situation and borders can be demarcated with Shebaa.”
The Saudi minister also reportedly said: “There will be no dialogue as long as Hizbullah keeps its weapons. The problem in Lebanon is Hizbullah. Lebanon got rid of the Syrians and must get rid of Hizbullah.”
The report also alleged that Hariri had said that Hizbullah was the first to attack Israel during the July 2006 war.
He was also quoted as saying that he “is demanding a price for his return to the national dialogue.”
The national dialogue resumed on Monday after a 19-month halt.
Hariri was represented at the talks by the head of the Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc MP Fouad Saniora.
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