Dr. Ali Awadh Asiri, Saudi ambassador to Lebanon, has expressed surprise at remarks made by Lebanese Interior Minister Nihad Al-Mashnouq in his TV address yesterday in which he mentioned the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in a number of Lebanese internal files issues. In a statement issued today, the Saudi ambassador said: "the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has never nor will it ever interfere in the Lebanese internal affairs, particularly the presidential file which the Kingdom considers a matter of sovereignty that concerns the Lebanese people and to which they alone have the right to decide." "The Saudi ambassador stressed that the Kingdom's role is limited to encouraging Lebanese officials to find a solution for the political crisis in order to end the vacancy of presidential office; that will serve interest of the state institutions and lead to stability and economic prosperity in Lebanon, regardless of who the new president will be."
