RIYADH: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah congratulated Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Saturday for winning the confidence of the Lebanese people and becoming the country’s premier.
During a reception at Rawdat Khiraim, the king wished Hariri’s government success and called for closer ties between the Kingdom and Lebanon, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Hariri arrived in the Kingdom on Friday night. The two leaders discussed developments in the region and ways to strengthen cooperation in all fields. Hariri also expressed his happiness at Crown Prince Sultan’s return to the Kingdom. He thanked King Abdullah for his concern regarding Lebanon’s stability and unity.
Hariri assumed office Nov. 9. A week later the Saudi Council of Ministers expressed satisfaction over the formation of the new Lebanese government under Hariri’s leadership, saying it hoped this would unite and stabilize the country. The Cabinet also reiterated Saudi Arabia’s support for Lebanon’s stability.
Lebanon was without a functioning government since Hariri led his coalition to victory in a June parliamentary election against Hezbollah and its allies. Hariri spent more than four months trying to broker a deal with the opposition to join a unity Cabinet.
The rival factions agreed in July on the broad division of seats in the new Cabinet. But Hariri, son of assassinated leader Rafik Hariri, had struggled to reach an agreement.
Hariri’s government won a resounding vote of confidence from Parliament on Thursday. The new government, which backs Hezbollah’s right to keep its arms, won the support of 122 of the 128-seat Parliament. One deputy voted against while one abstained and four were absent, Speaker Nabih Berri said.
