Saudi travel warning lift to bring promising summer: Lebanon's PM

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BEIRUT: Prime Minister Saad Hariri said Wednesday that Saudi Arabias recent decision to lift a travel warning for its citizens would mean the promising summer that Lebanon has been waiting for.

The number of Saudi tourists visiting Lebanon has already increased significantly since the kingdom lifted the 15-month travel warning in February. The premiers comments came during a speech praising the strong relations between Saudi Arabia and Lebanon. He said these were reflected in the way the kingdom has always been by Lebanons and the Arabs side.

Despite what people say, Hariri said during the speech, which took place at a conference focused on humanitarian work, the kingdom has stood by Lebanon without distinguishing among friends, allies and those who do not like the kingdom.

The most recent expression of these relations, he said, are aid agreements - estimated to be worth a total of almost $15.5 million - with the United Nations agency for Palestine refugees, UNESCO, the Higher Relief Committee, the Tripoli Governmental Hospital and other organizations.

The agreements will aim to provide assistance in education, health care and nutrition for Lebanese, Syrian and Palestinian communities. They were signed during a visit by Abdullah al-Rabeeah, a Saudi court adviser and the supervisor-general of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center.

Hariri expressed hope that the advisers visit would pave the way for more agreements to be signed between the kingdom and Lebanon.

Your visit to Lebanon is more than to sign an agreement to cover the needs of Lebanese families. We hope it paves the way for more agreements to be signed, including [ones] to enhance bilateral ties, Hariri said.

The conference was also attended by Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid Bukhari, Deputy Prime Minister Ghassan Hasbani, Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdel-Latif Derian, former Premier Tamam Salam, MP Bahia Hariri and other officials.

Rabeeah arrived in Lebanon Monday and met with Hariri, Derian and Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai.

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