The Saudi Embassy in Beirut brought together most Lebanese political forces at an Iftar banquet, held under the patronage of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri and with the participation of the advisor at the Saudi Royal Court, Nizar al-Aloula.
Saudi Charge d'Affaires to Lebanon Walid bin Abdullah Bukhari delivered a speech on the occasion, in which he underlined the deep rooted-relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Lebanon, which he said would defy all challenges.
Hariri, for his part, said that the “Saudi house always brings all the Lebanese together and does not differentiate between them.”
“Gulf States have not at any time interfered in our internal affairs, and we are required in return to distance ourselves from meddling in the affairs of sister countries,” he stated.
The ceremony was attended by political, religious, economic and diplomatic figures. Among those present were former President Michel Sleiman, former Prime Ministers Fouad Saniora and Tamam Salam, and Lebanese Forces Party leader Samir Geagea, in addition to Kataeb Party President MP Sami Gemayel, Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian and Beirut Maronite Archbishop Boulos Matar.
Lebanese ministers included Jamal al-Jarrah, Nohad al-Mashnouq, Pierre Bou Assi, Melhem Riachi, Ghattas Khoury and Ali Hassan Khalil.
Also present at the Iftar were Director General of General Security Major General Abbas Ibrahim, and Lebanese Press Syndicate Chief Aouni Al-Kaaki, in addition to the ambassadors of Kuwait, France, UAE, Egypt, Oman, Algeria, Morocco, Sudan, Yemen, Tunisia and Palestine.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia wants Lebanon to remain united in facing the challenges and to maintain our Arabism and our commitment to the Taif Agreement,” Hariri said.
He also expressed his thanks and appreciation to Saudi leaders for their permanent support to Lebanon, saying: “The Kingdom has always sought stability, safety, development and peace for Lebanon.”
