Saudi crown prince confers with Lebanese Premier
Lebanon-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 2/8/1999

Lebanese Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss met on Sunday in Riyadh with King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz and held talks with Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz dealing with relations between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia as well as Arab and international developments.

King Fahd held a dinner banquet in honor of the Lebanese premier during which talks were held. Diplomatic sources in Riyadh said that Saudi Arabia stressed to al-Hoss "Full support to Lebanon."

Al-Hoss talked on the telephone with the Lebanese President Emile Lahoud and briefed him on his talks with the Saudi crown prince "and the prevailing positive atmosphere during the talks."

For his part, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal told the Lebanese National News Agency that the Kingdom "is looking forward towards continued relations with Lebanon," noting that Saudi Arabia is used to that " coordination and consultation are the basics in relations between the two countries."

The Saudi FM asserted the importance of unconditional implementation of UN resolution 425, which calls for an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, and refused any Israeli conditions for imposing the resolution.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal, several Saudi officials, and the Lebanese ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Zuheir Hamdan, were present at the meeting.

The Lebanese Prime Minister will meet on Monday with Saudi businessmen at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Riyadh.

In statements to reporters, al-Hoss said he will not ask the Kingdom for certain aid to Lebanon. He explained he will visit Egypt on February 20 and that the date for his visit to Kuwait has not been fixed yet.

Al-Hoss arrived in Riyadh earlier on Sunday for a two-day official visit to Saudi Arabia, during which he will hold talks with high-ranking Saudi officials, foremost being King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz.

Al-Hoss' talks with Saudi officials will concentrate on several issues of mutual concern, foremost being the halted Middle East peace process, the continued Israeli aggressions against south Lebanon, and several joint economic and investment topics between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia.

Al-Hoss's visit is however is his first visit to Saudi Arabia since he assumed the office of prime minister in December 1998.

Previous Stories:
  Bashar al-Assad visits Lebanon, renews Syria's support   (2/4/1999)
  Lebanese Prime Minister to visit Saudi Arabia   (2/2/1999)
  Saudi Arabia donates military equipment to Lebanese army   (1/9/1999)

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