By NNN-SPA,
Riyadh : Prince Saud al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister, has reiterated the deep concern of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia about the armed confrontations and clashes in Lebanon and their spread in several Lebanese cities and regions.
He said the Kingdom declares its deep sorrow for directing Lebanese weapons at Lebanese fellow citizens, and against the homeland and its institutions.
He noted that the Kingdom warns against continuity of this situation which might plunge the country into a dangerous slide with unfavorable consequences in view of the critical situation under which Lebanon lives, and the severe stormy political crisis on the ground.
Speaking at his periodical press briefing here Tuesday, he appealed to all Lebanese parties to respond to the sincere true efforts of the League of Arab States, and the ministerial committee emanating from Arab League Council, to solve the Lebanese crises according to the Arab Initiative.
This initiative aims at launching political Lebanese dialogue instead of exchanging bombs and bullets between the Lebanese, targeting Lebanon’s infrastructure and official and civil institutions with fire and destruction, and silencing Lebanon’s free media, Prince Saud said.
On Saudi Arabia’s withdrawal of its ambassador from Beirut and the closure of the embassy following the recent developments in Lebanon, he said that the ambassador was summoned for consultations and would return if things calmed down.
However, he said the embassy is open and functioning to undertake the interests of Saudis remaining in Lebanon.
In response to a question about the possibility of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran negatively being affected on the incidents in Lebanon, Prince Saud said “if Iran was supporting the coup that took place in Lebanon, this would affect its relations with all Arab countries, if not all Islamic nations”.
He added that it seems that there is some party who does not want a presidential elections to be held and for the Lebanese constitutional institutions not to function and sponsor the interests of Lebanon.