Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to restoring normal ties with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries…reports Asian Lite News
Lebanon would “take all necessary measures” to enhance cooperation with Saudi Arabia and other GCC countries,” and there is “the need to stop all political, military, security and media activities that originate from Lebanon and affect the sovereignty, security and stability” of these countries, Xinhua news agency quoted Mikati as saying in a statement.
ALSO READ: Lebanon facing wheat crisis amid Russia-Ukraine conflict: President
Lebanon would tighten border control to prevent drug smuggling to the GCC member states, he added.
Lebanon has witnessed rising tensions with Gulf states over the past year in the light of drug smuggling attempts from the country to the Gulf region.
In addition, the Gulf states have more than once expressed displeasure with the dominant political position of Hezbollah, a Shia Islamist party in Lebanon, and its support of Yemeni Houthi rebels.
Meanwhile, Lebanese President Michel Aoun has said that the Russia-Ukraine conflict affected Lebanon’s capacity to secure sufficient wheat, urging UN to increase food support for his country, a statement by Lebanon’s Presidency reported.
“Wheat warehouses were destroyed in the Beirut port blasts in 2020, and the war in Ukraine further impacted our access to this commodity,” Aoun was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.
Aoun’s remarks came on Monday during his meeting in Italy with David Beasley, the executive director of the World Food Programme, who said the WFP will continue supporting Lebanon despite the increasingly difficult global situation.
Aoun also met with the director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Qu Dongyu, who said that FAO will urge member states of the organization to double their production of basic food products with the aim of facing the emerging global situation in light of the war in Ukraine.
Dongyu promised Aoun to continue coordinating with the Lebanese government to provide Lebanon with its needs.
Aoun arrived in Italy on Monday and he will also hold meeting with Italian president and officials.