NNA – Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon, Waleed Bukhari, held last evening a dinner banquet at his Yarze residence in honor of Grand Mufti Sheikh Abullatif Derian, in the presence of the majority of the Sunni MPs.
quot;Mufti Derian thanked Ambassador Bukhari for the ceremony, and stressed that any gathering that brings the Lebanese closer together is well welcomed,quot; a statement by Dar-al-Fatwa indicated.
It added that the Mufti also underlined that quot;the Muslim Sunnis in Lebanon are a key component of the national decision-making,quot; stressing that quot;they must be unified over the Lebanese constants that guarantee the rights of everyone without exception.quot;
quot;He called for abiding by and holding on to the Taif Agreement,quot; the statement said. quot;Any other stance is rejected and condemned, and it complicates the solutions that can only be reached through the Taif Agreement,quot; the statement quoted Derian as saying.
Moreover, the Mufti warned against attempts to convince people that the decision to elect a new president of the republic is up to one category of the Lebanese.
For his part, Bukhari reiterated Saudi Arabia#39;s unwavering support for the Lebanese state and institutions, and its keenness on the Lebanese people.
He added that Saudi Arabia quot;is exerting permanent and continuous efforts in the quintet committee and it is presenting the ideas and proposals that contribute to saving Lebanon.quot; quot;The Kingdom does not have ant initiative to support any name for presidency and it does not interfere in any name. It stands at an equal distance from everybody,quot; he stressed. quot;This choice is that of the MPs; the Kingdom only suggests criteria and qualifications,quot; he said, adding that it hopes that a new president is elected as soon as possible.
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