Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmed Nasser Al-Sabah said that his visit to Lebanon carries a message represented in ideas and measures to build confidence, in the first visit of a high-ranking Gulf official since the outbreak of the crisis between Lebanon and Gulf countries.
The Kuwaiti minister stressed – after his meeting today, Sunday with Lebanese President Michel Aoun – that Lebanon should not interfere in the country’s internal affairs, and that Lebanon should not be a platform for aggression against any country.
The Kuwaiti minister arrived in Beirut yesterday, Saturday, in the first visit of its kind, which came 3 months after a crisis erupted between Lebanon and the Gulf countries, against the background of statements by former Lebanese Minister of Information George Qardahi regarding the Yemen war.
The diplomatic crisis between Saudi Arabia and Lebanon began against the background of statements by Qardahi, which were recorded before he took office and were broadcast afterwards, in which he said that the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen were “defending themselves” in the face of “external aggression” from Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati stressed, during his meeting with the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister yesterday, the necessity of restoring the strength of relations between Lebanon and the Arab countries.
And the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister said – in a joint press conference with his Lebanese counterpart Abdullah Bouhabib yesterday – that he carries 3 messages to Lebanon, indicating that the Kuwaiti move is being coordinated with the Arab Gulf states to support Lebanon.
The Kuwaiti minister indicated that the messages are to support Lebanon, not to be a platform for aggression, and to fulfill its pledges. He added that there is a mutual desire for Lebanon to regain its glory by not interfering in Gulf affairs.
For his part, the Lebanese Foreign Minister said that his country is counting on the Kuwaiti role to end the crisis with Gulf countries, and stressed that Lebanon looks forward to supporting its Gulf brothers.