Hariri says his Cairo visit discussed importing natural gas through Jordan

CAIRO - 16 July 2021: Saad Al-Hariri, the former prime minister-designate and current head of Lebanon’s Future Movement party, said his visit to Cairo included a discussion on importing natural gas from Egypt through Jordan to supply energy by 50-60 % in Lebanon.

This comes shortly after Hariri stepped down as a prime minister-designate nearly nine months after he was tasked with forming the crisis-ridden country's next government.

Hariri said President Michel Aoun had not accepted his latest Cabinet lineup less than 24 hours after the three-time prime minister submitted the proposal.

He affirmed in an interview with Lebanese Al-Jadeed TV channel that Egypt has always worked for Lebanon’s interest, adding that his meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on Wednesday included highlighting support for Lebanon’s stability.

Hariri said his meeting with Sisi did not tackle his plans to step down as prime minister and refrain from forming a new government.

Sisi affirmed on Wednesday Egypt’s support to the political path of Hariri aiming to restore stability in the country and tackle the current challenges, a statement by the Presidency read.

This came as Sisi met with Hariri in Cairo. Chief of the Egyptian General Intelligence Service Abbas Kamel and Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry attended the meeting.

Sisi, during the meeting, highlighted the need for concerted endeavors to settle any disputes in terms of the government formation efforts in order to get Lebanon out of the current state it is suffering from.

This comes through prioritizing Lebanon’s national interests in a way that preserves the resources of the Lebanese people and their national unity, the statement added.

Hariri, for his part, hailed Egypt’s sincere and tireless efforts to mobilize international support for Lebanon at all levels in light of the continuity of the hard challenges the Lebanese people are facing, especially at the political and economic levels, the statement read.

Hariri expressed Lebanon’s appreciation of the firm historic relations linking the two countries, which are based on solidarity and brotherhood.

Hariri also voiced his country’s appreciation of the vital Egyptian role as a main pillar for preserving stability in Lebanon and the whole Arab region.

The meeting reviewed the political scene in Lebanon in addition to the means to enhance the ongoing bilateral cooperation between Egypt and Lebanon, the statement added.

They also discussed the most prominent regional developments, the statement noted.

Hariri on Wednesday also met with Foreign Minister Shoukry, who reiterated Egypt’s support to Lebanon so that it can overcome the current situation.

During the meeting, Shoukry affirmed the need for all Lebanese parties to prioritize Lebanon’s higher interest over any narrow interests, a statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry read.

MENA contributed to the reporting.