Assiri Back in Lebanon after Months Abroad: Lebanese Will Choose Their President

Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awad Assiri arrived in Lebanon with his family on Friday afternoon to resume his diplomatic duties, but denied that his return is linked to the upcoming presidential vote.

"The Kingdom did not and will not meddle in Lebanese affairs,” Assiri told the state-run National News Agency in his first statement after returning to the country.

He added: “The Lebanese are the ones to choose their president and they are capable of doing so. The choice must be made in Lebanon and I returned to resume my diplomatic duties.”

"We are working on reaching an agreement between all local political forces to avoid vacuum (in the presidency),” he noted.

On the meetings between Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal and Lebanese figures in Riyadh, Assiri said: “Most leaders in Lebanon are closely and historically tied to Saudi Arabia, and there is nothing unusual about such visits to the country.”

The Ambassador continued: “Everyone knows about King Abdullah's keenness on political and security stability in Lebanon without interfering in local affairs. The special relations between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia are what gave way to these visits.”

Separately, the diplomat assured that there is no ban on visits by Saudi nationals to Lebanon.

"King Abdullah is keen on (the safety of) Saudi citizens, and the travel warning was only issued when (certain security) conditions prevailed in the country,” he explained.

Regarding the return of Saudi and Gulf tourists to Beirut, Assiri said: “I assure you that this is linked to the success of the security plan and its effectiveness.”

The Saudi diplomat's return to Lebanon comes after he had spent months abroad.

Upon his arrival, he received a telephone call from Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea who welcomed his return.

Both men also discussed the latest developments in Lebanon and the region.

Assiri had left the country in September 2014 because “of the deteriorating security conditions,” as he stated then.

Al-Liwaa newspaper reported on Tuesday that Assiri will return to Beirut to be “in the light of the ongoing negotiations to elect a new president.”

The daily also revealed that former Prime Minister Saad Hariri held talks with presidential candidate Jean Obeid and Health Minister Wael Abou Faour, who was delegated by Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat, over the anticipated vote.

The same source noted that Obeid arrived in Beirut on Monday.

Hariri had met earlier in the week with Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil and Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi in Paris for the same purpose.

Lawmakers once again failed on Wednesday to elect a new president as differences between the March 8 and 14 alliances led to a lack of quorum in the second parliamentary session aimed at choosing a new head of state.

While the March 14 camp held onto its candidate Geagea, the Hizbullah-led March 8 alliance, except for Speaker Nabih Berri's Development and Liberation bloc, boycotted the second round of the elections over lack of consensus on one candidate.

Berri set Wednesday, May 7 for a third round of voting.

S.D.B.