Le Drian meets Aloula in KSA, Beirut visit uncertain

French presidential envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian held a meeting overnight in Riyadh with Saudi Royal Court adviser Nizar al-Aloula, who is in charge of the Lebanese file, in the presence of Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid Bukhari.

The meeting reflects “Saudi Arabia’s desire to act (regarding Lebanon) after its noninterference decision that lasted a long time,” a prominent political source told al-Joumhouria newspaper in remarks published Friday.

Media reports meanwhile said that an agreement has been reached on holding a Sep. 14 meeting in Beirut for the ambassadors of the five-nation group for Lebanon, after which it would be decided whether Le Drian would visit Beirut or not.

Informed diplomatic and political sources told al-Joumhouria that “the meeting between Le Drian and Aloula focussed on the situation in Lebanon and the region and the proposed French choices to overcome the constitutional and political dilemma in Lebanon and facilitate the efforts exerted for the election of a new president, whether through consensus or via a democratic process that can receive the needed international support.”

The newspaper also quoted sources close to Saudi officials as saying that there will be an endeavor to hold a meeting between Le Drian, Aloula and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan to continue discussing “the so-called new French ideas, which enjoy tentative U.S. support and will not stray far from the U.S. and Qatari visions, which would give a strong, renewed momentum for the presidential file.”

Informed sources meanwhile told the newspaper that “before understanding the results of the Riyadh meeting and the consultations of the five ambassadors in Beirut, there will not be any plans for a visit by Le Drian to Beirut.”