Lebanon's Information Minister, George Kordahi, submitted his resignation today, "I do not wish to be a cause of harm to Lebanon and my fellow Lebanese [residing] in Gulf states because Lebanon is more important than I".

Kordahi added in the press conference that "there is no need to remind [anyone] that the interview was conducted before I was appointed minister," noting that he was the victim of a deliberate campaign launched by media outlets in Lebanon and the Gulf.

He also pointed out that because of this campaign, "demands for my resignation and a boycott of Lebanon began by Gulf states," stressing that "due to this massive and unjust pressure against Lebanon, I refused to resign at the time."

Kordahi also said that the most prejudiced against me in Lebanon had been the first to call for sovereignty and independence, noting that he "consulted with Minister Frangieh and with allies, and they told me I was free to take the decision I found appropriate."

As for the Yemen war, Kordahi said: "The war in Yemen will not last forever, and there will come a day when the warring factions will sit at the table to talk," noting that "President Macron will discuss the issue of restoring relations with Lebanon with Saudi Arabia ."

According to Kordahi, "the Saudi Foreign Minister's previous statements were clear with regards to the crisis with Lebanon exceeding the mere statements of a minister," adding, "My stay in this government has become futile because of the many demands for my resignation, even from within the government."

Earlier in the day, Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported that Kordahi did not obtain any guarantees regarding the cancellation of measures taken by Gulf countries against Lebanon.

مراسل #الميادين: وزير الإعلام اللبناني #جورج_قرداحي سيعلن استقالته عند الساعة الواحدة بتوقيت #بيروت، ولم يحصل على أي ضمانات بشأن إلغاء الإجراءات الخليجية بحق #لبنان". #السعودية pic.twitter.com/Fyfvzq1o2G

— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) December 3, 2021

Kordahi to Al Mayadeen: I hope that the French initiative will bear fruit in the benefit of Lebanon

After the press conference ended, Kordahi said in an exclusive statement to Al Mayadeen, "I thank the factions that supported me," adding that "we are on the same track in seeking the interest of Lebanon."

Kordahi also noted that he resigned because of a new initiative by French President Emmanuel Macron, who will discuss the matter with Saudi Arabia, which required Kordahi's resignation. He hoped that the initiative would bear fruit in the benefit of Lebanon.

#جورج_قرداحي لـ #الميادين:

أقول للقوى التي دعمتني شكراً على دعمها ونحن على أهداف واحدة لمصلحة #لبنان، وشكراً لأطفال #اليمن وأتمنى أن تتوقف هذه الحرب بأسرع وقت ممكن.#السعودية #ماكرون pic.twitter.com/ItE757iJRm

— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) December 3, 2021

A few weeks ago, Kordahi said that he was open to any solution that would benefit Lebanon and restore its relations with the Gulf states, but stressed that his resignation should not be "just a shot in the air that does not bring any results," as he put it.

Riyadh announced at the end of last October that it had summoned its ambassador to Lebanon for consultations, and requested that the Lebanese ambassador leaves within 48 hours, following the publication of an interview with Qardahi before he was appointed a minister describing the war on Yemen as absurd.

The repercussions of the crisis developed to include several Gulf countries ( Kuwait, the UAE, and Bahrain) that took similar positions to its neighbor.