Saudi Arabia warns against dangerous turn if sensitive position in Lebanon continues

Prince Saud Al-Faisal: All regional parties should respect Lebanon sovereignty, independence

Hariri says standing up against sedition; developments could lead to civil war

Army chief explains to officers stance during fights

Rallies in Beirut to support attacked media institutions

Prince Saud al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, expressed the Kingdom's "deep concerns" about the armed confrontations and clashes in Lebanon and their spread to several Lebanese cities and regions.

He said the Kingdom declares its deep sorrow for directing Lebanese weapons at Lebanese fellow citizens, and against the homeland and its institutions.

He noted that the Kingdom warns against continuity of this situation which might plunge the country into a dangerous slide with unfavorable consequences in view of the critical situation under which Lebanese lives, and the severe stormy political crisis on the ground.

The remarks of Prince Saud came at his periodical press briefing in Riyadh.

Following is the Press Briefing of Prince Saud:

"In The Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.... The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expresses its deep concern at continuity of the confrontation and armed clashes in Lebanon. Saudi Arabia declares its deep regret over pointing Lebanese weapons at Lebanese fellow citizens, and against the homeland and its institutions.

The Kingdom stresses its solidarity with its Arab brethren, and its commitment to the resolution issued by the Arab League Extraordinary Ministerial Council Meeting, which provides for standing by the Lebanese people, serving the best interest of Lebanon, its Security, stability and sovereignty, rejection of the use of armed violence to achieve political goals outside the framework of constitutional legitimacy, calling for withdrawal of all armed manifestation from Lebanese street, welcoming the measures taken by the government to calm down the crises, and importance of the army undertaking its responsibilities in protecting general security, and easing the situation , and promoting its role and boosting its capabilities to protect security of the country.

The Kingdom appeals to all Lebanese parties to respond to the sincere true efforts of the League of Arab States, and the ministerial committee emanating from Arab League Council, to solve the Lebanese crises according to the Arab Initiative.

This initiative aims at launching political Lebanese dialogue instead of exchanging bombs and bullets between the Lebanese, targeting Lebanon's infrastructure and official and civil institutions with fire and destruction, and silencing Lebanon's free media.

In keeping with the peaceful Arab League efforts, the Kingdom reiterates its call upon all regional parties to honor Lebanon’s sovereignty and independence, shun their interference in its internal affairs by giving rise to sectarian sedition and acting on confiscation of its political resolve and free will.

As regards the peace process in the region, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques received recently Mr. Tony Blair, Envoy of the Quartet. In the meeting, developments of the Palestinian issue were discussed.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques expressed deep resentment and denunciation of the Kingdom for continuity of Israel in the collective punishment policy against the Palestinian people, and the persistent blockage of Gaza Strip. This action led to deterioration of the living conditions of the [Gaza] strip population and deepening of their humanistic suffering.

The Monarch underscored the importance of the Quartet intervention to put an end to this unjust siege and lift the suffering of Palestinian people.

It is positive that this issue will be raised in-depth between the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the United States President during His Excellency’s next visit to the Kingdom.

These activities are part of the international efforts to revive the peace process in the region on the bases agreed upon in Annapolis Conference, i.e. the basic elements: resolutions of the international legitimacy, Arab Peace Initiative and the Roadmap, to reach just, comprehensive and permanent peace in the region, and creation of the viable Palestinian state that lives in peace and security side by side with Israel.

Saudi Arabia also expresses its condemnation and rejection of the armed attacks that took place in Khartoum and Um-Durman in the brotherly Sudan, and any attempts at shaking its security and stability.

The Kingdom moreover underlines the importance of doubling regional and international efforts to settle Darfur problem on the basis of Abuja Agreement among the [Sudanese] factions, relevant African Union resolutions, the understandings between the Sudan the UN, and abidance by the principles of good neighborhood and noninterference in the internal affairs among regional countries.

The Kingdom also follows the escalation of violence in Saadah, in brotherly Yemen. We express our appreciation of the active efforts and endeavors exerted by President Ali Abdullah Saleh to contain the conflict and its ramifications, and look forward to response of the mutiny movement followers to these good endeavors and their abidance by their agreement with the government to save bloodshed and turn away sedition.

With regard to the situation in Iraq, the Kingdom welcomes calmness of the security situation in Mosul, and cease of armed confrontations. We hope that this state-of-affairs develops to take hold by promoting efforts towards accommodating all Iraqi factions in the current peace process, in realization of the objectives of justice and equality among all Iraqi people in rights and duties, and sharing wealth.

Following that, Prince Saud answered the questions of the reporters.

Prince Saud stressed the Kingdom's great interest in and full readiness to mediate between Sudan and Chad, saying: "Of course, the Kingdom is very interested in this subject.”

“It is totally and utterly unacceptable that troops traveled 500 kilometers deep into Sudan's territories and threatened the capital and Umm Durman.” Therefore, the extraordinary meeting was basically discussed.

The Sudanese government told us that it managed to eliminate the perpetrators of this unacceptable attack. As for mediation, the Kingdom is ready at any time to carry out any effort leading to commitment to the agreement.

The commitment is signed and there is no ambiguity on the responsibilities of each party. We hope that they will abide by this agreement. If they adhered to the agreement, I think that it will lead to ending the disturbances between the two countries".

Regarding the efforts exerted by the Yemeni President to contain the rift in Sa'dah in addition to the lack of commitment by Al-Huthi supporters to implement their agreements with the government, Prince Saud said "This is a major mistake against the Yemeni people. The President was very patient and exerted efforts to prevent harming the Yemeni people. He deserves our appreciation and the opponents should act reasonably".

Responding to a question about diplomatic efforts to repatriate wanted Saudis in Iran, Prince Saud said "This demand is continuing and we hope Iran will respond to our demand because this will be an evidence of good will in the framework of the security agreement which will be nothing if the intentions were not in conformity with the stated commitment. This is what we hope from Iran".

Regarding the Kingdom's support to send a joint Arab defense force to Lebanon to end the crisis, Prince Saud said "The Kingdom has not concealed its position which is unambiguous.

The Kingdom supports the Lebanese legitimacy represented by the Lebanese government which introduced its solution to the existing situation regarding the decisions taken by the Government. The solution has already been submitted to the Arab League.

Therefore, the Kingdom has called for the acceptance of the proposal presented by the Government to calm the situation. We fully support the legitimacy in this regard. If these solutions were accepted, the crisis will be solved".

On Saudi Arabia's withdrawal of its ambassador from Beirut and the closure of the embassy following the recent developments in Lebanon, Prince Saud explained that the ambassador has already been summoned from Lebanon, but the embassy is open and functioning to undertake the interests of Saudis remaining in Lebanon and who would not like to leave, adding that the ambassador was summoned for consultations and would soon return, if things calmed down.

In response to a question about the possibility of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran negatively being affected on the incidents in Lebanon, Prince Saud said "if Iran was supporting the coup that took place in Lebanon, this would affect its relations with all Arab countries, if not all Islamic nations".

On whether the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has received any information on the setting ablaze of two Saudi embassy employees private cars in Greece, he confirmed that he was closely following the investigations into the incident, particularly the suspicions raised about this issue, but investigations showed conclusively that the explosion was not intended to send a message to the Kingdom, bearing in mind that that criminal organization used such actions to embarrass its Greek Government.

Asked whether he is optimistic over the recent formation of an ad hoc committee to resolve the Lebanese crisis in the aftermath of the failure of the Arab League Secretary General in his first round and how he considers the postponement of the Lebanese presidential elections that was announced, Prince Saud said that since that was not the first or sudden postponement, it might have surprised us and we might have condemned it but the continuing delays made us accustomed to them. He added that it seems that there is some party who does not want a presidential elections to be held and for the Lebanese constitutional institutions not to function and sponsor the interests of Lebanon.

On the ministerial committee, he said "Of course we were not pessimistic, otherwise we would not have agreed to send it for specific goals: that's to try to convince the minority to accept the government's measures offer including holding the presidential elections and giving dialogue full chance to work among the Lebanese themselves and on the foundations of the constitutional institutions in Lebanon.

With regard to the perception of the Kingdom for the development and strengthening of the Lebanese army to protect the security, he responded by saying that this scheme to strengthen the army must come from the Lebanese government, but let us call on whoever could be helpful in this context to provide such assistance because the army is ultimately the base through which security and peace for the Lebanese could be achieved.

We believe in that, provided that it takes place through the remaining constitutional institution, that's the Lebanese Government, he added.

On the Kingdom's position regarding the different factions in Lebanon and whether it keeps varying distances towards them, Prince Saud said "we are supporters of legitimacy all through". He cited that the Lebanese Constitution calls for resolving differences among the Lebanese through elections.

Prince Saud said since there is a proposal presented by the Arab League leading to electing a president, forming a transitional government and putting the electoral system that paves the way for holding the elections, then why should they shed blood, destroy properties and waste money.

He said they have the solution in their hands, giving the right to any party to win the election if it got majority of votes. He asked why they do seek support from outside.

Asked on the outcome of Saudi-Iranian contacts on Lebanon amid hesitance of the army, Prince Saud said "contacts are continuing with all parties and this was not surprising, because we want a solution to the problem, and we don't want Lebanon to destroy itself, but the important thing is to convince the Lebanese parties to solve the matter without any interference".

On rumors about the existence of harassment against Saudi citizens departing from Lebanon across the Syrian border, he said "I have not heard anything about that".

Asked about the call of Saudi Arabia and all Arab states to give priority to reason and the interests of Lebanon, except Syria, which considers it an internal matter, Prince Saud said "If Syria is interested in the situation in Lebanon, then positive intervention and not negative interference is required. If it used it offices to influence the authorities of the Lebanese legitimacy, it is desirable to do so and this does not need to hold consultations before doing it".

Asked to comment on the cancellation of Nabih Berri's visit to Saudi Arabia recently, Prince Saud said, noting that Berri is the Speaker of the Lebanese parliament, it would have been more fruitful if an inter-Lebanon dialogue took place first to make the visit a success and for the Saudis to provide the necessary assistance to forward that dialogue towards the correct road leading to achieving the interest of Lebanon.

Asked to comment on the possession of nuclear weapons by some countries in the present time amid disturbances in some parts of the world, Prince Saud said that "We are against proliferation of nuclear weapons and against the existence of nuclear weapons in the Middle East.

The policy we are following in the Gulf region is that the region including the Arab Gulf should be free from nuclear weapons and other destructive weapons".

Asked about the possibility of convening a tripartite summit including the Kingdom, Iran and Syria if that would end the Lebanese crisis immediately, Prince Saud said "This is a hypothetical question. However, even if they met, I think each party would have its own agenda. So, I believe that what is important is the work on the ground and not in meetings.

If there was a conference between Iran and Syria on the situation in Lebanon, is there any need for Saudi Arabia to show them what is required? I believe that every party should fulfill its duty in this context as Lebanon deserves stability and not become a tool in a political game that devastates its identity and respect among other countries of the world.

On a question about the negligence by the Arab parties of Syria and the need of the ministerial committee to visit Syria, Prince Saud explained that the ministerial committee is authorized to communicate with the parties. He added that "We want to know from the Lebanese themselves what do they want.

We want to ward off any foreign intervention in the Lebanese affairs and to leave the Lebanese to deal with their matters; he said adding that the Arab League insists that it is not allowed to reach political objectives through the use of force. "We want the initiative of dialogue to promote among them and not language of arms", he concluded.

Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Abdulaziz Khoja said that the shooting directed at the Saudi Embassy in Beirut was intentional.

He also noted that those who targeted the embassy could have been discontent of the role played by Riyadh over the crisis in Lebanon.

“I will return soon to Lebanon. The decision of the Saudi government to call on me to Riyadh is a normal thing,” Khoja declared.

Khoja left Lebanon by sea aboard a boat that brought him and some members of the diplomatic mission to Larnaca, Cyprus. He said their trip from Beirut there took six hours and a half. King Abdullah Bin-Abdulaziz, the custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, ordered a private plane which flew to Larnaca Airport to bring the ambassador and several staff members who arrived with him.

The U.S. Embassy in Beirut has received reports of inaccurate information appearing in the media. The U.S. Embassy said that it is the only source of official information regarding services to U.S. citizens and other consular services at the U.S. Embassy. The U.S. Embassy asks US citizens to check its website frequently for the most current information.

The Canadian Embassy in Beirut published on its website a travel report on the situation in Lebanon which says “The current situation remains fragile and could deteriorate further without warning. Canadians should maintain a high level of personal security awareness at all times, continue to monitor local media for up-to-date information, follow the advice of local authorities, ensure that all their identification and travel documents are up-to-date, and avoid all political gatherings and demonstrations. If you are in an area affected by demonstrations, you should find a safe location, remain indoors and heed local advice.”

Dozens of Lebanese and foreign journalist gathered in Beirut to protest the attack by the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah on news media owned by a family opposed to it.

The terrestrial and satellite TV station Future TV, satellite TV news channel Future News, the daily Al-Mustaqbal and Radio Orient - were forced to stop operating by Hezbollah. All are owned by the head of the ruling majority, Saad Hariri.

His father Rafik Hariri, a former Lebanese prime minister who was assassinated in a car bomb blast in 2005, set up Future Television in 1992.

'This is an attack on the freedom of press,' said Sahar al Khateeb, an anchor at Future Television. 'We are not their enemies for God's sake,' she shouted.

Other journalists chanted: 'They will not silence our voices. Lebanon is for everybody, and not for them (Hezbollah).' The protest was due to end near the headquarters of Future television.

Action against the Hariri media included a rocket attack on one of Future television's offices which was empty, and threats by gunmen against the news studio building, saying they would open fire if the channel did not stop broadcasting.