Former Lebanese PM lauds Egypt's pivotal role in region

BEIRUT - 30 November 2017: Former Lebanese prime minister Tammam Salam lauded the pivotal role Egypt plays in Lebanon and in the entire region.

Given brotherly relations binding Egypt with Lebanon, it is very normal that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi would be keen on what is going on in Lebanon and on having contacts with Arab leaders in a bid to achieve stability in Lebanon, Salam told MENA on Thursday.

Egyptian-Lebanese relations are progressing in all domains, he said, lauding the big role played by the Egyptian-Lebanese business council in this regard.

He said Lebanese officials are keen on boosting economic cooperation with Egypt to facilitate signing new deals that would help increase exports and imports.

As for developments in Lebanon, he hoped Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri would rethink his resignation given the seriousness of the situation in the country, lauding the way President Michel Aoun and Speaker of Chamber of Deputies Nabieh Berri handled the crisis following Hariri resignation.

He expressed his condolences to the Egyptians over the victims of the bloody Arish mosque attack that targeted innocent worshipers, saying Arish attack is an evidence on the level of savageness these terrorist groups have reached.

He expressed confidence that Egypt is capable of overcoming this ordeal and targeting whoever seeks to undermine its security and stability.