President Joseph Aoun and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman during the Lebanese head of state's visit to Riyadh on Monday. (Credit: NNA)
During their meeting in Riyadh on Monday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman discussed the importance of establishing a monopoly on Lebanese weapons within the state, and, therefore, disarming Hezbollah, and ensuring the withdrawal of the Israeli army from all Lebanese territory, according to a joint statement released on Tuesday. The two men also agreed to study the “obstacles” to the resumption of trade between their two countries. The Saudi authorities decreed an embargo on all Lebanese imports in late October 2021, against the backdrop of a diplomatic crisis between the two countries, fueled by tensions over the influence of Hezbollah and Iran on the Lebanese political scene.
This statement, published in the state-run Lebanese and Saudi agencies, specifies that Aoun and the Saudi Crown Prince agreed during their meeting to strengthen cooperation between the two countries, coordinate their positions on major issues at the regional and international levels, and discuss ways to strengthen Lebanese sovereignty.
'Obstacles' to the resumption of Lebanese exports
Regarding relations between the two countries, "the two parties agreed to begin examining the obstacles that hinder the resumption of exports from the Lebanese Republic to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the necessary measures to allow Saudi citizens to travel" to Lebanon, the statement said. Aoun's official visit to Riyadh was an important sign of warming Lebanese-Saudi relations, long cooled by tensions related to Iran and Hezbollah. Saudi nationals are still banned from traveling to Lebanon, while all commercial relations have been frozen for several years.
On Oct. 29, 2021, the kingdom announced several major retaliatory measures following the remarks of the then Minister of Information, Georges Qordahi, regarding the war in Yemen and the involvement of the Gulf countries in this conflict. The crisis was also amplified by Hezbollah's "control" over Lebanese decisions and drug trafficking hidden in imported products.
'Launch the required reforms'
During the meeting between MBS and the Lebanese president, Lebanese sovereignty and "the importance of implementing what was mentioned in the presidential inauguration speech" of Aoun on Jan. 9 were also discussed.
The two parties "stressed the importance of the full implementation of the Taif Agreement, the implementation of the relevant international resolutions, the affirmation of the sovereignty of the state over the entire Lebanese territory, the limitation of weapons to the forces of the Lebanese State only, the affirmation of the national role of the Lebanese army, the importance of its support and the necessity of the withdrawal of the Israeli occupation army from all Lebanese lands."
Regarding the recovery of the Lebanese economy, the two parties "agreed on the need to ... launch the reforms required at the international level according to the principles of transparency and application of binding laws."
The statement said that "Lebanon is a genuine member of the Arab community and that its relations with Arab countries are the guarantee of its security and stability."
Invitation to Beirut
The election of Aoun to the presidencygave hope to the Lebanese regarding the possibility of putting Lebanon back on the path to reconciliation with the Arab and international communities, as well as the prospect of national recovery.
"Views were exchanged on all current regional and international situations, and the two parties stressed the importance of strengthening Arab action and coordinating positions on important issues at the regional and international levels," the statement said. The statement concluded with the mention of an invitation by Aoun to the Saudi Crown Prince, which received a "favorable reception."
Lebanese-Saudi fraternal relations
Aoun arrived in Cairo this morning, accompanied by Foreign Minister Joe Rajji, to participate in the extraordinary Arab League summit on the situation in Gaza, which is being held on Tuesday.
Shortly after he departed from Riyadh to Egypt, the head of state sent a final message to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman to thank him for his welcome "which reflects the depth of the Lebanese-Saudi fraternal relations rooted in history."
"Our talks laid the solid foundations for a new phase in the relations between our two countries, which we agreed to activate and develop in all areas," he wrote in his message. He asked the Crown Prince to convey to King Salman "the deep appreciation of the Lebanese for his historical positions towards Lebanon and its people."