Prime Minister Najib Mikati urged for an end to “all Lebanon-based political, military, security and media activities that harm the sovereignty, security, and stability of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.”
In a statement issued on Monday, he commented that the current government is committed to restoring the ties between Lebanon and the Arab Gulf states.
He shared that he had talked with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister, Sheikh Ahmed alabaster, to tackle this issue and put efforts to “reunite” Lebanon with its Gulf counterparts.
The Lebanese PM also focused on Lebanon’s efforts to prevent the smuggling of illegal and harmful substances to these countries.
His government, according to him, will start focusing on “barring the use of Lebanese financial and banking channels to conduct any financial transactions that might harm the security of Saudi Arabia and the GCC countries.”
Mikati also highlighted that Lebanon is ready to commit to the Kuwaiti initiative.
Walid Joumblatt, leader of the Progressive Socialist Party, had urged the Lebanese government a week earlier to “restore relations” with the Arab Gulf states, particularly Saudi Arabia as the crisis is significantly crippling further the Lebanese economy.
The rift between Lebanon and the GCC was triggered by the ex-Minister of Information Georges Kordahi‘s criticism of the war in Yemen and the Gulf States’ involvement in it.
Kordahi’s comments had led to the expel of several Lebanese ambassadors from the Gulf region and the ban of all Lebanese imports.
To restore the diplomatic and economical relationship, the GCC is asking for major security reforms in Lebanon, including stopping drug smuggling and Hezbollah’s involvement in other Arab countries, especially Yemen, and the disarmament of the Iran-backed militia.
The end of the rift between Lebanon and the Gulf states will slowly boost the Lebanese economy.
It will also come as a relief to the tens of thousands of Lebanese expatriates working in the GCC to ensure that their families in Lebanon can survive the ongoing crippling recession.
