Lebanese president in Egypt for talks

Auon’s support for Hizbollah could raise temperature

CAIRO // Lebanon’s newly elected president arrived in Egypt yesterday, a day after defending Hizbollah in remarks on Egyptian TV – comments that underlined his support for the Iranian- backed Shiite militant group.

Michel Aoun’s last visit to Egypt was as a military officer 55 years ago. He was elected in October after a 29-month vacuum in the country’s top post.

After talks with Egyptian leader, Abdel Fattah El Sisi, also a former military officer, Mr Aoun called on Egypt to lead an “Arab salvation plan” to beat terrorism.

He also invited Mr El Sisi to visit Lebanon and said Egypt has offered to support the Lebanese army and the country’s security forces.

Lebanon’s political factions are deeply divided with some, such as Mr Aoun’s party and Hizbollah, aligning with Iran, while their opponents side with Saudi Arabia. Mr Aoun, whose Christian party is allied with Hizbollah, said that Iran’s support for the group “could continue indefinitely”. “As long as the Lebanese army is not strong enough to battle Israel, we feel the need for its existence,” Mr Aoun told the Egyptian TV network CBC on Sunday.

His remarks could spark tension with Saudi Arabia. Egypt and the kingdom are at odds over conflicting agendas including Syria and Yemen. In October, the Saudis halted oil shipments to Cairo at a time when Egypt was in crisis. The Saudi move appeared to have been in response to Egypt’s support of a UN Security Council resolution on Syria that was opposed by Riyadh. Saudi Arabia backs Syrian rebels fighting to topple president Bashar Al Assad. Egypt, fearing the rise of Islamic militants, has pushed for a political solution that might keep Mr Al Assad in power.

Mr Aoun visited Saudi Arabia last month in an attempt to restore relations, which deteriorated after Riyadh accused Beirut of failing to condemn last year’s attacks by demonstrators on Saudi missions in Iran after the kingdom’s execution of a Shiite cleric.

Saudi Arabia halted a US$3 billion ( Dh11bn) arms deal and banned Saudis and other Gulf nationals from travelling to Lebanon.

After Mr Aoun’s visit, the travel ban was lifted but the arms deal is on hold.

Mr Aoun called on Egypt to lead an Arab salvation plan to beat terrorism