President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, met Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Dr. Ahmed Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah, today at Baabda Palace.

The President told Minister Al-Sabah that Lebanon welcomes any Arab move that would restore normal relations between Lebanon and the Arab Gulf states, based on a firm Lebanese keenness to preserve the best relations between Lebanon and Arab countries.

In addition, President Aoun thanked the Minister Al-Sabah for the initiative which he conveyed, “Which reflects the distinguished relations between Lebanon and Kuwait, especially since this initiative enjoys Gulf, Arab and international support with the aim of rebuilding confidence between Lebanon and the Gulf states”.

The President also assured Minister Al-Sabah of Lebanon’s commitment to implementing the TaifAccord and the relevant international legitimacy and Arab resolutions, noting that the ideas contained in the memorandum handed over by the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister would be the subject of consultations to announce the appropriate position.

Moreover, the President reiterated the strength of the Lebanese-Kuwaiti relations, and conveyed his greetings to the Kuwaiti Prince, Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and Crown Prince Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The President conveyed Lebanon’s thanks, as President and people, for the permanent stand of Kuwait next to Lebanon in various circumstances and all difficult situations, in addition to “Taking care of the Lebanese residing in their second country, Kuwait”.

For his side, Minister Al-Sabah had conveyed to President Aoun the greetings of the Emir of Kuwait, the Crown Prince and the Kuwaiti people, pointing out that his visit coincided with the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Lebanon and Kuwait, and the 30th anniversary of the liberation of Kuwait, recalling Lebanon’s position on the Iraqi invasion that Kuwait was subjected to.

Minister Al-Sabah also presented the memorandum, which included ideas and suggestions aimed at “Rebuilding confidence between Lebanon and the Gulf states,” reiterating “The non-interference in Lebanese internal affairs, and the unwillingness of Lebanon to interfere in the affairs of other countries”.

On the Kuwaiti side, the meeting was attended by: Assistant Foreign Minister for Arab World Affairs, Minister Nasser Sanhat Al-Qahtani, Chargé d’Affairs of the State of Kuwait Abdullah Suleiman Al-Shaheen, Deputy Assistant Foreign Minister for Minister’s Office Affairs Ahmed Abdul Rahman Al-Shuraim, Adviser in the Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Fawaz Abdullah Bouresli, and Second Secretary, Salem Ali Abu Hadideh.

On the Lebanese side: Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Abdullah Bou Habib, former Minister, Salim Jreissati, Director General of the Presidency of the Republic, Dr. Antoine Choucair, and advisers, Rafic Shelala, Antoine Constantine and Osama Khashab.

Word in the Honor Record:

At the end of the meeting, Minister Al-Sabah wrote the following speech in the honors record:

“I had the honor this morning, Sunday, January 23, 2022, to meet His Excellency the President of the brotherly Lebanese Republic.

I conveyed to him the greetings of his brother, His Highness, the Emir of Kuwait, the government and people of Kuwait, and the best wishes for Lebanon to enjoy more stability, security and prosperity”.

Statement:

After the meeting, Minister Al-Sabah made the following statement:

“I had the honor this morning to meet His Excellency the brotherly President of the Republic of Lebanon.

I conveyed to him the greetings of His Highness, the Emir of the State of Kuwait, His Highness the Crown Prince, the government and people of Kuwait, and wishes for more security, stability and prosperity for Lebanon.

I also conveyed the main reason for my visit to Lebanon, where I carry a message  Kuwaiti, Gulf, Arab and international measures and ideas proposed to “build confidence again with Lebanon”.

All these ideas and proposals are derived, and their basis are the international legitimacy resolutions and other previous resolutions of the League of Arab States.

Thankfully, I have now conveyed them to His Excellency the President, and they are now in the process of deliberation and study, and, God willing, we will have a response to these proposals soon”.

Questions & Answers:

In response to a question about whether the Gulf states that have taken measures against Lebanon will monitor what is said, after what was said yesterday that Lebanon would not be a platform for “verbal aggression” the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister replied “What we asked for is that Lebanon not be a platform for any verbal or physical aggression. We want Lebanon as it has been for more than 73 years: radiant, iconic and a distinctive symbolism in the world and in the Arab Mashreq.

Lebanon is a place of hope for all, a refuge for intellectuals, artists, writers and all human sciences. The Lebanon we know is not a platform of aggression. This is the main issue in this matter.

I renew that there is never any tendency to interfere in the internal affairs of Lebanon.  We intend to build trust, and we hope it will be dealt with in a way that is beneficial to all”.

Asked if Kuwait was ready to lead a new dialogue in Lebanon under the title of implementing the TaifAccord, “Which includes addressing the concerns you raise,” Minister Al-Sabah replied: “In short, we do not interfere in Lebanon’s internal affairs. In the folds of the question there is the answer: it is only implementing what has been done.”  It was agreed upon in advance, including the Taif Accord, and if there are some commitments that have not been implemented so far, God willing, by implementing them tangibly, we will reach the goal which concerns everyone”.

Concerning Lebanon’s ability to implement Resolution 1559 in light of the clear political division, Minister Al-Sabah said: “This is a matter which concerns the Lebanese themselves, and not something that belongs to Kuwait. But all the decisions of international legitimacy are binding on all countries of the world. God willing, Lebanon and all those who are concerned with this particular decision will reach a matter that is compatible with the resolutions of international legitimacy”.

Asked about the truth of what the media agencies reported about his presentation yesterday to the Prime Minister with a ten-point paper, and what these points include, Minister Al-Sabah stated: “These are ideas and proposals that were presented yesterday, and I mentioned them today to His Excellency the President. I do not find it useful to discuss these points in the media.  These points are left to the Lebanese officials, and they see whether they want to discuss them in the media or not. But we are waiting for a response”.

Regarding the official invitation he made to Premier Mikati to visit Kuwait, and what about the visit of the Lebanese Foreign Minister to Kuwait, in light of the severing of diplomatic relations, the Kuwaiti Minister replied: “Firstly, diplomatic relations with Kuwait were not severed, the ambassador was summoned for consultations.

Secondly, the invitation of the Lebanese Foreign Minister to Kuwait comes through an Arab consultative meeting that will be held at the end of this month in Kuwait, given that Kuwait is now chairing the Council of Foreign Ministers of Arab countries.  We host nearly 50,000 Lebanese, who are happy in their developmental role, and welcome Lebanese of all levels to visit Kuwait. The foreign minister’s visit is bilateral, but mainly as part of the Arab move”.