Manama: Outgoing Lebanese Prime Minister Sa'ad Hariri said that he would announce his positions on all issues after he arrives in Beirut and meets President Michel Aoun.
Hariri said at the Elysée that his talks with French President Emmanuel Macron covered the latest developments in Lebanon and the region and the Lebanese-French relations.
“I thank President Emmanuel Macron for his support. He has displayed an infallible friendship that I will never forget," he said following the talks and the lunch with the French leader and their families.
“France has shown once again the greatness of its role in the world and the region and has proven its attachment to Lebanon and its stability. For all these reasons, I reiterate my thanks to Macron and to France,” Hariri said in French, the Lebanese news agency reported.
“As regards the political situation in Lebanon, I will be in Beirut within the next few days and I will participate in the celebration of our Independence Day. There, I will announce my stances on all matters after I meet the president of our republic, General Michel Aoun.”
Beirut commemorates the end of the French mandate over Lebanon in 1943 on November 22.
Turning to Arabic, Hariri, 47, again thanked France and the French leader.
“I thank the President and I see that France always plays a very positive role in the region, especially the Lebanese-French relations, which are historical and we are interested in reinforcing them,” he said.
“God willing, I will attend Independence Day in Lebanon and I will announce all my political positions from Lebanon after my meeting with the President of the Republic. You know that I have announced my resignation and there in Lebanon, we will talk about this matter,” he added.
Hariri who holds the Saudi citizenship as well arrived on Saturday morning in Paris after boarding a private jet from Riyadh where two weeks ago he announced his resignation.
Throughout his stay, he rejected claims made by some Lebanese officials that he was being forcefully detained by Saudis.
The French media have trumpeted Hariri’s visit to Paris and his meeting with President Macron as “a great success and an outstanding achievement for the French leader and for France in the region.”
