Riyadh Tells Jumblat that his Stances Weaken Hariri and Saudi-Syrian Negotiations
Saudi Information and Culture Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja met with Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat Tuesday night amid efforts by Riyadh to contain the crisis that erupted following the Druze leader”s latest stances.
"We agreed to support efforts to form a government and pave way for consolidating the path of understanding and stability," Jumblat said about his two-hour meeting with Khoja in Clemenceau. The minister arrived in Lebanon from Morocco.
Public Works Minister Ghazi Aridi attended the talks and later headed to Baabda palace for a meeting with President Michel Suleiman, according to pan-Arab daily al-Hayat.
After the Clemenceau meeting, Jumblat stressed on his good ties with Riyadh while the former Saudi ambassador expressed his country”s keenness on stability in Lebanon.
An Nahar said Khoja carried a letter from King Abdullah, who is vacationing in Morocco, questioning Jumblat on his latest stance and its repercussions on Lebanese politics.
Naharnet learned Khoja told the Druze leader that Riyadh considers his stance would weaken PM-designate Saad Hariri in his efforts to form a new cabinet on one hand and would jeopardize the Saudi position in its negotiations with Syria aimed at consolidating Lebanese sovereignty and ending interfering in Lebanon on the other.
An official source told As Safir daily that Khoja”s visit was part of "a direct and serious Saudi move to deal with (Jumblat”s) new stance."
The newspaper also quoted Lebanese sources as saying that the Saudi leadership sent Khoja to Beirut as part of its efforts to revive inter-Arab ties, in particularly Saudi-Syrian relations, and reiterate Riyadh”s keenness on maintaining security in Lebanon.
The minister also telephoned Caretaker Premier Fouad Saniora and Speaker Nabih Berri. As Safir said that Khoja held a telephone conversation with the Hizbullah leadership in which he hoped the mission of the premier-designate would be facilitated. However, the party”s sources denied any contact.