Lebanese Prime Minister: My political and religious kiss is Saudi Arabia
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati announced, in a statement today, Friday, after his visit to Maronite Patriarch Mar Beshara Boutros Al-Rahi, that his political and religious kiss is Saudi Arabia.
Mikati visited Patriarch Al-Rahi this morning at the patriarchal edifice in Bkerke (northeast of Beirut) in the presence of Ministers of Justice Henry Khoury, Media George Kordahi, Tourism Walid Nassar, and Communications Minister Johnny Qurum. Archbishops Boulos Sayah, Hanna Alwan, Antoine Awkar and Samir Mazloum also participated in the meeting, according to a statement issued by the Presidency of the Council of Ministers.
After the visit, Mikati said in response to a question about opening the doors of Saudi Arabia to him, "I believe that Saudi Arabia is my political and religious qiblah, and therefore it did not close its doors in any way. When I perform my five daily prayers, I turn towards the qiblah in Saudi Arabia."
Regarding the miserable conditions that the Lebanese live in, Mikati stressed, "We do not miss an opportunity without being with people's concerns, and I know these great concerns, and we strive, but frankly, the eye is insightful and the hand is short."
He added, "We have many problems and we seek to resolve them slowly, and yesterday the Minister of Energy took quick measures and made tours of the stations, and we are pursuing all violations."
He continued, "Today, with the ministers, I wanted to pay a visit to His Beatitude on this blessed morning, and I briefed him on the progress of the government's work. I asked him for blessings, prayers and supplications because we need them at every moment."
He pointed out that the atmosphere was "good and I reassured His Beatitude that things would go on the path of returning Lebanon to its economic role. We also talked about the social issue, and the Patriarch, in turn, conveyed social and living concerns, especially farmers' affairs and how to address them."
It is noteworthy that Prime Minister Mikati has not visited Saudi Arabia since the formation of the government on the tenth of last September.
Mikati's government faces great challenges in the face of the catastrophic situation that Lebanon is experiencing in light of the financial and economic crisis, the results of which have affected all the medical, hospital, educational, fuel, electricity, communications and bakeries sectors.
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