Lebanese PM hopeful of restoring ties with Gulf countries

By Stephanie Rady

BEIRUT, Lebanon (AA) – Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati expressed hope on Saturday that his country’s relations with the Gulf countries will be restored.

Mikati’s remarks came during his meeting with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Qatar on the sidelines of the Doha Forum international conference.

"Lebanon always needs Arab sponsorship, and Qatar is on the side of Lebanon, and God willing, all Arab countries and the Gulf states in particular will restore their normal relations with Lebanon,” Mikati said.

A diplomatic crisis erupted in October between Lebanon and a number of Gulf states following criticism of the Yemen conflict by then-Information Minister George Kordahi.

In January, Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmed Nasser al-Mohammad al-Sabah visited Lebanon in an effort to mend its standoff with the Gulf countries.

Mikati said his country believes in Arab unity as it is one of the founders of the Arab League, and is confident that the crisis between Lebanon and Gulf states, which he described as “a summer cloud”, will disappear once he embarks on his planned visits to Arab countries.

He revealed that Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani will visit Beirut, without specifying a date, "to personally assess Lebanon’s needs."

* Writing by Ibrahim Mukhtar in Ankara