Saudi appoints ambassador to Lebanon

After years of cooling in Saudi-Lebanese relations, Riyadh has initiated a move forward in relations by appointing an ambassador to Lebanon, and is now trying to instigate the return of Saudi tourists to the country. Saudi Minister of State for Arab Gulf Affairs Thamer Al-Sabhan announced the appointment of a new Saudi ambassador to Lebanon yesterday following a nearly five-month hiatus.

The announcement was made at a meeting between Al-Sabhan and Lebanese President Michel Aoun at Beirut’s Baabda presidential palace, during which the two men discussed inter-Arab tourism and other issues.

According to a statement issued by Aoun’s office, Al-Sabhan is now in Beirut to follow up on issues raised during the Lebanese president’s recent visit to Saudi Arabia.

Aoun visited Riyadh last month in his first official visit abroad since assuming the presidency last October.

Al-Sabhan did not provide the incoming ambassador’s name or say when exactly he would be dispatched to Beirut. Riyadh will also encourage Saudi tourism to Lebanon by increasing flights there by Saudi airlines, the Lebanese president’s office said.

In recent years, Saudi-Lebanese relations have been strained by ongoing differences over the conflict in Syria, an attack early last year on two Saudi diplomatic missions by Iranian demonstrators and a subsequent move by Riyadh to suspend military aid to Lebanon.