Saudi Arabia, Lebanon agree to boost relations

Lebanon’s president ended a visit to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday where he discussed regional affairs with the kingdom’s crown prince after which both countries said Israeli troops should withdraw from south Lebanon and only the Lebanese state should have weapons.

The visit by Joseph Aoun, the first by a Lebanese head of state to the kingdom in eight years, improves ties between the two countries.

Aoun visited Saudi Arabia several times when he was army commander, and many in Lebanon hope that his visit as president will open the way for lifting a ban on imports from Lebanon as well as allowing Saudi citizens to travel to Lebanon.

Aoun was received on Monday night by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman at Yamama Palace in the capital, Riyadh, where they discussed the situation in Lebanon and boosting relations between the two countries, according to the state-run Saudi Press Agency.

Aoun’s visit comes after Hizbollah suffered severe blows during a 14-month war with Israel that left many of its top political and military officials dead and ended with a US-brokered ceasefire in late November. Israel withdrew many of its troops from Lebanon in mid-February but left five posts inside Lebanon, which Lebanese officials have described as a violation of the ceasefire deal.

A joint statement issued after the summit said that only state institutions in Lebanon should have the right to have arms and that the Lebanese army should be supported. It added that Israel should withdraw from all parts of Lebanon.

Aoun last week told Saudi Arabia’s Asharq News that Riyadh would reactivate a $3 billion package for the Lebanese army. In 2016, Saudi Arabia announced it was halting deals aimed at equipping and supporting the Lebanese army and police forces.

The statement added that both sides agreed to study the obstacles that are facing the resumption of Lebanese imports to Saudi Arabia and measures needed to allow Saudi citizens to visit Lebanon again. They also agreed that the Lebanese economy should come out of its historic crisis and that Beirut should implement reforms demanded by the international community.

It said Aoun invited the Saudi crown prince to visit Lebanon, adding that Crown Prince Mohammed welcomed the invitation.

Associated Press