Minister Kordahi: I Will Not Resign
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Lebanese Information Minister George Kordahi says his position remains unchanged and his resignation is unlikely after his statements on the war on Yemen, which angered Saudi Arabia.
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Kordahi stood by his earlier position of refusing to apologize to Saudi Arabia
Lebanon's Information Minister, George Kordahi, said in a press conference on Sunday that his resignation from the cabinet is unlikely.
Kordahi's statement was in line with his previous stances, in which he confirmed that he does not intend to apologize to Saudi Arabia over an interview that was broadcast and recorded before he became minister, whereby he described the war on Yemen as "futile".
Saudi Arabia summoned its Ambassador in Lebanon for consultations on the 29th, while it requested the Ambassador of Lebanon to leave the Kingdom within 48 hours and decided to stop all Lebanese imports. Other Gulf countries (Kuwait, the UAE, and Bahrain) followed suit by adopting a similar position, while Qatar condemned Kordahi's statements and asked for de-escalation.
Lebanon's Foreign Minister, Abdallah Bou Habib, welcomed a statement by Oman, in which it announced its regret that relations between Lebanon and a number of Arab countries had gone sour, asking for restraint and de-escalation.
Bou Habib also stressed Lebanon's keenness to preserve the best of relations with its Gulf and Arab brothers.
١)صدر عن وزير الخارجية والمغتربين اللبناني عبد الله بوحبيب البيان الآتي:
— Mofa Lebanon (@Mofalebanon) October 29, 2021
بناء لطلب دولة رئيس مجلس الوزراء الموجود حالياً في زيارة عمل خارج البلاد، ونظراً للتطورات الأخيرة المتسارعة، فسأتولى من بيروت، بالتنسيق والتشاور مع فخامة رئيس الجمهورية ودولة رئيس مجلس الوزراء،
On his part, Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rahi called on President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister Najib Mikati to take definitive measures to defuse the situation with Gulf countries.
Kordahi's statements had received official and public backing in Lebanon, the most important of which was that of Marada Movement Chief Sleiman Frangieh, who said that Minister Kordahi was wronged, and stressed his support for him.
On Sunday, Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc Member Hassan Ezzeddine supported Kordahi, calling his stance patriotic, adding that it reflects a brave personality that does not succumb to blackmail.
Ezzeddine said that Saudi Arabia used Kordahi's statements as an excuse to threaten the Lebanese people and interfere in their internal affairs.
