Report: KSA, France urge 'unifying president' as Aloula meets MPs
French Special Presidential Envoy for Lebanon Jean-Yves Le Drian has met in Paris with Saudi minister Nizar al-Aloula and Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid Bukhari, media reports said.
The meeting confirmed that “there is no breakthrough in Riyadh’s stance, with the Saudis stressing in it that their country will not be concerned with Lebanon unless its demands regarding the president’s characteristics, program and reforms are met,” al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Wednesday.
“Al-Aloula and Bukhari also met with Lebanese figures in Paris, including MPs Wael Abou Faour and Fouad Makhzoumi,” the daily said.
According to Abou Faour and Makhzoumi, the Saudis “stressed that their stance and the stance of the French have become unified and that the presidential crisis can only be resolved through the election of a unifying president who enjoys the approval of most political forces and does not represent a provocation to anyone,” the daily added.
According to reports, al-Aloula has also met in Paris with MP Melhem Riachi of the Lebanese Forces.