Lebanese President: Saudi Diplomatic Crisis Started Before Kordahi's Statements

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Saudi diplomacy in a pickle

In an interview for Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, Lebanese President Michel Aoun said that he aims for "the best relations with Saudi Arabia," calling for what could be deemed as a more "institutionalized" relationship so that Beirut-Riyadh relations remain unaffected by personal matters. Aoun, here, was referring to the diplomatic crisis that followed the statements of Lebanese Information Minister George Kordahi on the war on Yemen, calling it "futile". 

Aoun indicated that the bilateral relationship was in a crisis before the said statements, attributing the diplomatic crisis to Saad Hariri, "We spent a year and a half forming government in order to reconcile with Saudi Arabia, and when he failed, he apologized for not forming a government."

He continued to say that there is no mediator between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia since the solution to the crisis is through dialogue with the Kingdom. But, the connection is cut off currently, even with the Prime Minister. However, "there are indications of possible solutions that we have been working on discreetly, which will hopefully bring about positive results to open dialogue."

FPM's relationship with Hezbollah

Responding to a question about the Free Patriotic Movement's "alliance" with Hezbollah, Aoun stressed that what governs the FPM's relation with Hezbollah is an "understanding and not an alliance." 

He added, "Everybody knows very well - Arabs, Americans, and Europeans - that I cannot besiege Hezbollah, who, to me, respects three basic and indispensable policies: Resolution 1701, internal stability, and not attacking in any way the ambassadors and nationals of the countries whose governments have labeled Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, including the US, the UK, Germany, and some Arab countries."

The Lebanese President emphasized that he is not at odds with Saudi Arabia and that the Kingdom "is one of the first countries he visited after being elected into office," pointing out that the diplomatic crisis between the two countries was not initiated by Kordahi's statements, but rather it started when the Kingdom's relationship with Saad Hariri deteriorated back in October and November of 2017.

"This was the beginning of the crisis," Aoun said, referring to the time when Hariri was held hostage by Saudi Arabia for a period of time. 

On Lebanese elections

On the date of the parliamentary elections, which the Parliament approved to be on March 27, 2022, Aoun stressed that he "will not sign a decree that calls the electoral colleges to vote on March 27. If it came to me, I would return it for amends. I will not accept parliamentary elections except on one of two dates: March 8 or 15."

Aoun explained his objection to the given date, saying that the 27th of March will deprive thousands of Lebanese who reach the voting age of casting their vote, in addition to unsuitable climate conditions at that time of the year. No parliamentary elections have ever been held in Lebanon except in May or June. Even in exceptional cases, such as the dissolution of the House of Representatives, elections were called for in spring, not in winter, he stressed.

He continued, "Ramadan starts at the beginning of April and ends at the end of the month, which leaves room for the voting process to take place a week or two afterward. And for those who wish to claim that voting is not possible in Ramadan, there is no simpler answer than 'If you did not prepare for your campaign before Ramadan, there is no need for it during or after it.'"

Aoun expressed his adamance to establish the megacenter, which will facilitate the voting process across towns and villages in Lebanon. He said that it will increase voter turnout because instead of going to remote places to vote, citizens can vote from where they are.

"We do not need too much effort to prepare the megacenter, which is nothing more than an electronic network. By it, we reduce boycotts and cut off bribery...”

The Lebanese President stressed that "the parliamentary elections will be held and they will be the second during my term, and no one will be able to stop this process."

Prime Minister Najib Mikati visited Michel Aoun on Friday in Baabda Palace, announcing that he will invite "the Council of Ministers to convene soon to return things to normal."