Saudi Arabia welcomes ‘positive points’ in Lebanese PM statement

RIYADH, March 22 (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia’s international ministry stated on Tuesday it welcomed the “optimistic factors” in an announcement by Lebanon’s prime minister, in an indication that Beirut’s tensions with Gulf Arab international locations are easing.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati burdened in an announcement on Monday the necessity to cease all Lebanon-originated actions that have an effect on the safety and stability of Saudi Arabia and different Gulf Arab international locations.

He added the Lebanese authorities is dedicated to strengthen cooperation with Saudi Arabia, following a cellphone name with Kuwait’s international minister, Sheikh Ahmad Nasser al-Mohammad al-Sabah.

The Saudi ministry stated it welcomed Mikati’s assertion, including it hoped that it’s going to “contribute to the restoration of Lebanon’s function and standing on the Arab and worldwide ranges”.

Saudi Arabia and different Gulf international locations expelled Lebanese envoys final 12 months in a diplomatic spat that has deepened Lebanon’s financial disaster, following important feedback in regards to the Saudi-led army intervention in Yemen by Lebanon’s former Data Minister George Kordahi.

Riyadh says the disaster with Lebanon had its origins in a Lebanese political setup that reinforces the dominance of the Iran-backed Hezbollah armed group and continues to permit endemic instability.

Saudi Arabia and its fellow rich neighbours as soon as spent billions of {dollars} in support in Lebanon, and nonetheless host an enormous Lebanese diaspora. However the friendship has been strained for years by the rising affect of the highly effective Hezbollah motion.

A monetary meltdown has crashed the Lebanese forex over the previous months and left a lot of the inhabitants going through poverty amid sky-rocketing commodity costs within the worldwide markets.

Reporting by Ahmad Elhamy; writing by Aziz El Yaakoubi; Modifying by Alex Richardson and Jonathan Oatis

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