Beirut port's destroyed silos, August 3, 2022. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/L'Orient Today)
BEIRUT — Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem al-Sabah Saturday criticized remarks made by Lebanon's caretaker Economy Minister Amin Salam on Thursday, calling for Kuwaiti aid to rebuild the port's grain silos, partially destroyed by the Aug. 4, 2020 blast.
Kuwait'd top diplomat said he was "astonished" by Salam's remarks, which "contradict the simplest political customs and reflect a lack of understanding of decision-making in Kuwait, which is based on the constitution and institutions — including for humanitarian donations and loans."
"Kuwait categorically refuses to allow anyone to interfere in its decisions and internal affairs," said Sheikh Salem, calling on the Lebanese minister to withdraw his remarks.
Salam told L'Orient-Le Jour Saturday that he had no intention of attacking Kuwait and believed that his remarks were "misinterpreted."
He explained that during a speech on the eve of the blast commemoration, he used the expression "with a stroke of a pen," in reference to a Kuwaiti promise to rebuild the silos, which was misinterpreted as "a mark of defiance."
"It's a popular expression in Lebanon that means something can be done quickly," he added. "I didn't mean at all that we were going to impose anything on Kuwait."
'Nothing has been done since'
"The Kuwaiti reaction was very harsh," said the minister, who explained his position earlier Saturday at a press conference in Beirut.
"Kuwait promised Lebanon, on August 22, 2020, to help rebuild the silos, but nothing has been done since. I was just reminding them of this promise and asking Kuwait to follow up on this issue again," Salam told L'Orient-Le Jour. "We simply want to know whether the Kuwaiti authorities want to continue with this project or whether we should look for someone else."
Earlier Saturday, Kuwait called on its citizens in Lebanon to remain vigilant and avoid "areas of security unrest," but did not ask them to leave the country.
This followed Saudi Arabia's call on Friday for its citizens to leave Lebanon quickly and avoid areas of armed conflict.
These instructions came after deadly fighting between rival Palestinian factions in Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp in southern Lebanon, which began on July 29. A precarious calm has prevailed since Thursday.
Relations between Lebanon and the Gulf states have been tense in recent years, due to the growing influence of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah on the political scene. In Oct. 2021, Saudi Arabia, along with other Gulf monarchies, suspended diplomatic relations with Beirut, before restoring them in April 2022.
