All eyes are on Beirut tomorrow as it hosts the Arab consultative meeting in preparation for the Algiers summit. Yesterday, foreign ministers from 21 Arab countries began arriving in Lebanon for the meeting, as Lebanon currently presides over the Arab Foreign Ministers Council. Diplomatic circles emphasize that the Arab presence in Beirut is merely "protocol-based and does not signal any change in the declared and clear Arab stance regarding the Lebanese file," which still links reform and the cessation of waste and corruption to contributing to Lebanon's rescue and recovery from its crisis, while continuing to seek ways to provide direct support to the Lebanese people without going through government channels.
Among the first arrivals was Qatar's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who made it a point to visit Army Commander General Joseph Aoun, highlighting the continued "support and backing" for the military institution. General Aoun praised the "generous gesture" from the Emir of Qatar, who announced a financial contribution of $60 million to support the Lebanese army personnel, while also acknowledging Qatar's initiative "about a year ago to send monthly food aid to the military institution in light of the hardships resulting from the economic crisis in Lebanon."
