Suleiman Hopes that Abduction of Kuwaiti National Won’t Affect Bilateral Ties

President Michel Suleiman hoped on Tuesday that the abduction of the Kuwaiti national Walid al-Houti will not have an impact on the Lebanese-Kuwaiti bilateral relations.

“Kuwait has always supported Lebanon and offered help in various sectors,” Suleiman told Kuwaiti ambassador to Lebanon Abdul-Al al-Qenai.

Al-Houti was released on Monday after being nabbed by unknown gunmen over the weekend from outside his residence in the eastern Bekaa town of Hawsh al-Ghanam.

Reports said the three captors hail from the Bekaa town of Britel and were led by a fugitive from the Ismail family.

Suleiman also called on the security agencies to follow up the kidnapping cases in Lebanon and to find the suspects, pointing out that they will be held accountable for their acts.

Suleiman also urged the authorities to exert efforts to release all Lebanese held captive in Syria and return them safely to their families.

For his part, al-Qenai stressed that the abduction of al-Houti will not affect the ties with Lebanon.

He handed Suleiman a letter from Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah who thanked him on his efforts in the matter.

Al-Qenai also held separate talks with Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Najib Miqati to thank them for the efforts they exerted to release al-Houti.

“I have visited Suleiman, Miqati and Berri to convey a message of gratitude from the Kuwaiti Emir and people for all the efforts undertaken to safely release al-Houti,” he stated.