3 former Lebanese PMs to tour Arab capitals to clarify adherence to Taef Accord

CAIRO - 18 July 2019: Lebanese former Prime Ministers Najib Mikati, Fouad Saniora and Tammam Salam will continue touring a number of Arab capitals soon to clarify the situation in Lebanon and the difficulties that it currently faces politically and economically.

Lebanon has lately witnessed more calls for safeguarding the Taef Accord and for protecting the country from attempts to insert Lebanon in the “resistance axis” amid already complicated regional developments.

Those calls were mainly discussed during Monday’s meeting in Jeddah of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz with Mikati, Saniora and Salam.

King Salman stressed this week that Saudi Arabia is keen on Lebanon’s security and stability and the need to keep it within the Arab fold.

Discussions highlighted the importance of bolstering the historic fraternal relations between Riyadh and Beirut and the Saudi and Lebanese people, said a statement released by the three former PMs.

King Salman underscored the Kingdom’s “strong and firm keenness on Lebanon, its independence and sovereignty.”

He also stressed the need to preserve and uphold the Taef accord that helped end Lebanon’s 1975-90 civil war. He emphasized the importance of maintaining coexistence among all Lebanese people of different sects and affiliations under the authority of the constitution, rule of law and respect of Arab and international agreements.

“Saudi Arabia will not spare an effort to protect Lebanon’s unity, sovereignty and independence,” said the statement. King Salman called for restoring the authority of the Lebanese state and its control over all its territories, voicing a desire to visit Lebanon.

Mikati described to Asharq Al-Awsat the meeting with King Salman as “excellent.”

“King Salman’s interest in the country can only stem from sincerity and he stressed that the Kingdom addresses all Lebanese factions without discrimination,” he added, revealing that he views Lebanon as an “oasis of democracy and freedoms.”

Lebanon must remain an open ground for dialogue, he stated.

Earlier this week, Hezbollah leader Sayed Hassan Nasrallah says Israel would not be 'neutral' if a war starts between the US and Iran.

The leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah has warned that Iran "is able to bombard Israel with ferocity and force" if a war breaks out with the United States.

Sayed Hassan Nasrallah's remarks were broadcast on the movement's Al-Manar television on Friday, following weeks of increasing tensions between the United States and Iran.

"When the Americans understand that this war could wipe out Israel, they will reconsider," Nasrallah said.

"Our collective responsibility in the region is to work towards preventing an American war on Iran."