Saudi ambassador meets with Sunni and Shiite officials

BEIRUT — Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to Lebanon Walid Bukhari was received Monday by Grand Mufti Abdel-Latif Derian, after the ambassador returned to Beirut on Friday, more than five months after his recall, following a diplomatic crisis between Lebanon and several Gulf monarchies.

Here’s what we know:

    • The diplomat left Dar el-Fatwa without making any statements, and later met with the Vice-President of the Supreme Islamic Shiite Council, Sheikh Ali al-Khatib. After the meeting, Khatib said that the return of the ambassador to Lebanon “will be the beginning of a new course aimed at strengthening fraternal relations between the two countries.”

    • Bukhari also invited Prime Minister Najib Mikati to iftar at the headquarters of the embassy on Sunday. According to the state-run National News Agency, the ambassador paid tribute to “Mr. Mikati's efforts to protect Lebanon in these difficult circumstances, and to restore Lebanese-Saudi relations.”

    • Bukhari also met with the Druze religious leader Sheikh Akl Sami Abi al-Mouna and discussed the “political developments in the country and the region.” The ambassador was also received by the head of the Maronite Church Bechara al-Rai at his residence in Bkirki.

    • The Saudi ambassador returned to Beirut on Friday, a few hours after the Kuwaiti ambassador Abdel Aal Al-Qenai landed in the city. The Saudi Foreign Ministry had announced a day before the return of its ambassador to Beirut “in response to calls from moderate political forces in Lebanon, and the commitment of the Lebanese government to take the necessary measures to cease all activities ... undermining the kingdom.”