2023-04-27 12:22:40
Beirut, April 27, 2023 (Xinhua) – Foreign Minister of the Lebanese caretaker government Abdullah Bou Habib said today (Thursday) that the Iran-Saudi Arabia agreement is important for peace in the region and that it has repercussions in Yemen, Lebanon and the Palestinian cause, hoping it will be positive.
This came during a joint press conference between the Lebanese Foreign Minister and his Iranian counterpart, Hussein Amir Abdollahian, following their talks at the Foreign Ministry’s headquarters in Beirut.
Bu Habib pointed out that Abdallahian briefed him on “the details of the Saudi-Iranian agreement in Beijing,” hoping that “good things would come from it to our country.”
He added, “I am optimistic that every agreement between the neighboring countries is good for Lebanon, and the results of the Saudi-Iranian agreement are not limited to opening embassies only, but also have repercussions in Yemen and Lebanon and on the Palestinian cause, and we hope that they will be positive.”
He stressed that “this agreement” is important for peace in the region.
On March 10, Saudi Arabia and Iran announced, following talks between them in Beijing, sponsored by China, that they would resume diplomatic relations and reopen embassies within two months, putting an end to 7 years of severance of relations.
Bou Habib indicated that Minister Abdallahian reiterated “the offer of assistance in the electricity sector and in providing a donation of oil.”
He added, “I will convey this offer to the concerned officials from among the colleagues in the government, and Minister Abdullahian will inform the prime minister regarding this issue.”
For his part, Minister Abdallahian said, “We consulted together on bilateral issues related to Lebanese internal issues and important regional and international issues.”
He pointed out that “Iran has always wished well for Lebanon, and we encourage all parties in Lebanon to complete the political process and speed up the (presidential) electoral process in this important country in the region.”
And he believed that “the officials in Lebanon and all the political parties and authorities in this country have the ability and the necessary sufficiency to reach an agreement and consensus on electing a president for the republic.”
He added, “We will support any election and any agreement that takes place between all parties in Lebanon, and we call on all foreign parties to support this election without any interference in internal affairs.”
And Lebanon had entered a presidential vacuum last October 31, with the end of the term of former President Michel Aoun without electing a successor, as the political division and the lack of agreement of the parliamentary blocs on a consensual figure led to the failure of Parliament 11 times since September 2022 to elect a new president for the country.
Abdullahian stated that he held talks with the Lebanese minister on comprehensive cooperation between Iran and Lebanon, and we affirmed our full readiness to strengthen relations in all fields, especially economic, trade, political and scientific.
He added, “The discussion touched on the recent agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia and the latest developments in occupied Palestine, as well as on Ukraine, Afghanistan, Sudan and Libya.”
Abdullahian arrived in Beirut yesterday (Wednesday) from the Sultanate of Oman on a two-day visit during which he will hold meetings with the Speakers of Parliament and the caretaker government, Nabih Berri and Najib Mikati, and representatives of parliamentary blocs and Lebanese political forces.
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