Manama: Saudi Arabia has denied reports that it was peeved with the visit by the prime minister of Lebanon to Turkey.
“With reference to reports posted online and promoted by Qatari newspapers claiming that the kingdom was not comfortable about the visit of Lebanese Prime Minister Sa’ad Hariri to Turkey, an official source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated there was no truth whatsoever to the allegations,” a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said on Wednesday.
“No source in Saudi Arabia has issued any statements about the visit of the Lebanese prime minister to Turkey.”
The online report claimed that Hariri wanted to build stronger relations with Turkey and that Saudi Arabia was upset with “Hariri’s rush to Ankara.”
The report added that Hariri thought Ankara would give him new opportunities to gain political mileage in Lebanon.
However, the report did not mention any names or facts that could support its claims.
Hariri travelled to Turkey on January 30 on a two-day official visit.
