Khoja: Saudi Government Has No Hand in Article on Hariri

Culture and Information Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja stressed that an article by a Saudi journalist criticizing Caretaker PM Saad Hariri did not express the point of view of the Saudi government.

"We respect the Lebanese and their leaders and pluralism in Lebanon. As for what some journalists and writers deal with in their articles, expresses their own opinions and not that of the state, " Khoja said in a statement.

He stressed that the Saudi government expresses its opinion through an official spokesman or an official side not through journalism.

"Saudi Arabia is keen on keeping good relations with all Lebanese officials, " Khoja reiterated.

The minister was referring to an article written by Saudi journalist Daoud al-Sheryan in pan-Arab daily al-Hayat earlier in the week.