Lebanon mending fences with Saudis

RIYADH // The Lebanese president, Gen Michel Aoun, said Beirut’s relations with Saudi Arabia were recovering, a day after he held talks with King Salman to repair ties after a falling- out between the two countries last year.

Saudi Arabia cancelled US$4 billion (Dh14.7bn) in aid and downgraded ties with Lebanon in February last year, blaming Hizbollah’s domination of the country when the government failed to join other Arab states in condemning attacks by Iranian demonstrators on Saudi missions in Iran.

It has also warned Saudi nationals to stay away from Leb- anon, depriving the country of tourism revenue.

Ties were further strained when, weeks later, Lebanon abstained from an Arab League vote branding Hizbollah a terrorist organisation. Hizbollah is fighting alongside government forces in Syria, while Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries support the rebels. Gen Aoun, on paper an ally of Hizbollah, told the Saudi-owned Asharq Al Awsat yesterday that Saudi tourists would soon return to Lebanon.

Asked if his visit had turned a page in relations with Saudi Arabia, Gen Aoun said: “Yes. When this era clears, we will be certain that it had no roots from the Lebanese people’s side.” The dispute cast a shadow on hundreds of thousands of Lebanese in Saudi Arabia and other GCC states, who transfer between $7bn and $8bn each year in remittances.

Asked about the fate of Saudi aid to the Lebanese army, Gen Aoun said: “This will be discussed by defence ministers.”

Saudi officials said King Salman had promised to review the restoration of aid to the Lebanese army.

Saudi tourists will soon return to Lebanon, says Gen Aoun