Lebanon Crisis Cell Meets on KSA Row in Presence of U.S. Envoy
Five Lebanese ministers and Presidency secretary general Antoine Choucair on Saturday held a crisis cell meeting over the diplomatic crisis with Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries.
The meeting was held at the Foreign Ministry at Prime Minister Najib Miqati’s request.
The meeting was attended by the ministers Abbas al-Halabi (Education), Amin Salam (Economy), Youssef Khalil (Finance), Abdallah Bou Habib (Foreign Affairs) and Bassam al-Mawlawi (Interior).
Speaking after the meeting, Halabi said "governmental work is ongoing and the country can't be left with no government in light of the crises that we are going through."
"Our hope is big that we will be able to reach a solution to this crisis soon," Halabi added.
"The issue is being addressed and we're before a few hours that separate us from a solution to the crisis' repercussions," the minister went on to say, calling for "opening the doors of dialogue, because this is the only way to resolve all problems."
Bou Habib for his part said he invited U.S. Embassy Deputy Head of Mission Richard Michaels to the meeting "because the Americans are capable of addressing the current crisis."
He also said that the countries that Miqati has talked to have told him "not to think of resignation," adding that "the crisis cell will continue to hold meetings."
Bou Habib had announced overnight that the cell’s “main mission” would be to “mend the rift in order to overcome the latest regrettable dispute.”
“We believe that what is happening is a problem and not a crisis with the brothers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries, and that it can be resolved and overcome through honest and brotherly dialogue for the sake of the interest of our friendly countries,” Bou Habib said.
“Be confident that Lebanon is extremely keen on keeping communication and rapprochement channels open with Saudi Arabia and its Gulf brothers, and it insists on restoring the best relations that are based on everything that brings us together and makes us close,” the minister added.
Saudi Arabia on Friday ordered the Lebanese ambassador to the kingdom to leave the country within 48 hours and stopped all imports from Lebanon, a response to comments by Lebanese Information Minister Georges Kordahi who described the war in Yemen as Saudi "aggression." Kordahi made the remarks in a TV interview recorded around one month prior to him becoming minister.
Hours later, the Kingdom of Bahrain ordered the Lebanese ambassador to leave the country within two days for the same reason, amid reports that all Gulf countries intend to expel the Lebanese ambassadors and to impose political and economic sanctions on Lebanon.
