The Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ambassador Hossam Zaki, revealed details regarding his visit to Lebanon, which is related to the recent crisis sparked by statements made by the Lebanese Minister of Information. Zaki stated that his visit to Lebanon "aims to explore the possibility of reconciling viewpoints," emphasizing that "the goal is the Lebanese and Gulf interests."
These remarks from the Assistant Secretary-General came after his meeting with Lebanese President Michel Aoun at the Baabda Palace at the start of his visit, during which he will also meet the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Following his meeting with the President, Zaki noted that "the atmosphere of the meeting was positive," explaining that "he will visit Saudi Arabia if necessary, but there needs to be a resolution to the crisis."
Zaki was quoted by AFP stating to reporters after his meeting with Prime Minister Najib Mikati: "We do not want this situation to continue. We want to achieve a breakthrough and a relaxation in this relationship. That will not happen while the crisis exists," adding, "We hope that this will be the starting point."
Statements made by Lebanese Minister of Information Georges Qardah, regarding the Yemen crisis, had ignited a wave of Gulf criticism, leading Saudi Arabia to summon its ambassador in Beirut and ask the Lebanese ambassador to leave Riyadh. Subsequently, Bahrain and Kuwait took similar actions, while the UAE announced the withdrawal of its diplomats and banned its citizens from traveling to Lebanon. The Lebanese government had expressed its rejection of Qardah's statements, affirming that they do not reflect Lebanon's official position. Mikati also urged Qardah to "take the necessary stance and prioritize national interest," implicitly referring to his resignation.
