Arab League: GCC-Lebanon relations suffer “major setback”

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Secretary General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit expressed his “deep concern and regret over the rapid deterioration of Lebanese-Gulf relations”.

According to a statement issued by the Arab League, the Gulf-Lebanon crisis comes at a time “when we have been actively seeking to restore a certain degree of positivity in these relations, which would help Lebanon overcome the challenges it faces”.

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The statement quoted an official source at the Arab League General Secretariat as confirming that the crisis caused by the Lebanese Information Minister’s previous statements and the events and positions that followed had to be dealt with in a defused manner and did not stoke the fire in the same way what happened.

 

He said that the situation has now reached a “major setback” in relations between Lebanon and its Arab and Gulf neighbors.

Aboul Gheit said he has confidence in “the wisdom and ability of Lebanese President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister Najib Mikati to quickly seek to take the necessary steps that could put an end to the deterioration of those relations”.

He called for steps to help “calm the atmosphere with Saudi Arabia, and heal the rift caused by the positions of the parties that want and have an interest in dismantling the ties of brotherhood that link Lebanon and its Arab people with their brothers in the Gulf and Arab countries”.

The Secretary-General of the League of Arab States has also called on the leaders of the Gulf States to take appropriate measures in this situation, in order to avoid further negative effects on the collapsing Lebanese economy and on citizens living in extremely difficult conditions.

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On Friday, Saudi Arabia recalled its ambassador in Beirut for consultations and demanded the departure of Lebanon’s ambassador to the kingdom within 48 hours, and the suspension of all Lebanese imports to the kingdom.

Saudi Arabia issued a statement in which it stated that the statements offensive to the Kingdom by the Lebanese Minister of Information represent a new episode of the deplorable and unacceptable positions issued by Lebanese officials towards it and its policies, in addition to the fabrications and fabrications contained in the statements.

“Late on Tuesday, Kurdahi provoked controversy with televised remarks about the war in Yemen, defending Houthi militias”.

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Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Information Minister George Kurdahi tried to calm tensions by calling for an appreciation of the national interest and for taking the appropriate decision to reform Lebanon’s Arab relations.

 

The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation summoned the Lebanese Republic’s ambassador to the UAE and informed him of its protest against Kurdahi’s statements.

The United Arab Emirates considered “Kurdahi’s statements” as contradictory to diplomatic norms and the history of Lebanon’s relations with the countries of the Arab coalition to support legitimacy in Yemen, and shows the growing distance of Lebanon from its Arab brothers.