Saudi FM Says Hizbullah to Blame for Lebanon Political Vacuum



Saudi FM Says Hizbullah to Blame for Lebanon Political Vacuum

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir on Tuesday blamed Hizbullah and Iran for the protracting political vacuum in Lebanon, a day after the party accused Riyadh of blocking political solutions in the country.

“Hizbullah, with Iranian support, is to blame for the political vacuum in Lebanon seeing as it is obstructing any effort aimed at resolving the presidential void crisis,” said Jubeir at a joint press conference he held with his French counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault.

“The entire world is aware of Iran's support for terrorism and its attempts to undermine stability in the region,” the Saudi minister added.

“Tehran must respect the principle of good neighborliness and must give up the principle of exporting revolution,” he said.

On Monday, Hizbullah deputy chief Sheikh Naim Qassem accused Saudi Arabia of blocking political solutions in Lebanon and the election of a new president.

“The reason behind the presidential vacuum is that local political forces are awaiting foreign instructions, especially a Saudi decision,” said Qassem during a Hizbullah educational ceremony.

“Saudi Arabia is keeping Lebanon in the waiting zone and it is not agreeing to any solutions that are in Lebanon's interest. It sends orders and its people here repeat like parrots,” Hizbullah number two added.

Lebanon has been without a president since the term of Michel Suleiman ended in May 2014 and Hizbullah, the Free Patriotic Movement and some of their allies have been boycotting the electoral sessions at parliament, stripping them of the needed quorum.

Al-Mustaqbal Movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri, who is close to Saudi Arabia, launched an initiative in late 2015 to nominate Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh for the presidency but his proposal was met with reservations from the country's main Christian parties as well as Hizbullah.

Hariri's move was followed by Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea's endorsement of his long-time Christian foe, FPM founder MP Michel Aoun, for the presidency after a rapprochement deal was reached between their two parties.

The supporters of Aoun's presidential bid argue that he is more eligible than Franjieh to become president due to the size of his parliamentary bloc and his bigger influence in the Christian community.


 














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