Lebanon on Macron’s Agenda in Riyadh, ‘Only if Kordahi Resigns Before Dec. 4’

Prime Minister Najib Miqati affirmed that France has informed him that Information Minister George Kordahi must resign before French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Riyadh, al-Akhbar newspaper said.

“If Information Minister George Kordahi doesn’t resign before December 4, Lebanon will not be on the agenda of French President Emmanuel Macron’s scheduled talks in Riyadh,” Miqati reportedly said.

Al-Akhbar learned that France is pressuring for Kordahi’s resignation to have in its hands a persuasion card when discussing the Lebanese file with the Saudis.

Accordingly, Miqati restarted his contacts with the political parties to demand for Cabinet to convene, stressing on the necessity of resolving the crisis with the Gulf, especially with KSA, and demanding Kordahi’s resignation.

Miqati also intensified his communication with Kordahi and the political parties objecting to the minister’s resignation.

He contacted Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Hizbullah, ex-minister Suleiman Franjieh and Kordahi, informed sources told al-Akhbar.

The sources added that Kordahi is still holding onto his opinion, and refusing to resign “without guarantees that his resignation will solve the problem with KSA, especially that Saudi officials have assured that the problem surpasses Kordahi’s statement and is rather about Hizbullah’s dominance over Lebanon.”