Naharnet

Saudi Ambassador Ali Awadh Asiri confirmed on Monday that the kingdom will always be the best destination for Lebanese businessmen, assuring that it will keep its doors open for them and for their investments.

“The kingdom was and will remain the best destination for Lebanese businessmen. It will keep its doors open,” Asiri told Al-Iktissad Wal-Aamal Magazine in an interview.

He called on business persons to “engage in projects in Saudi Arabia because it is profitable investment. Lebanon only means well for the kingdom. End of discussion.”

The ambassador added: “The reasons behind the latest political dispute with Lebanon are known, and what happened is not worthy of the historical relationship between the two countries.”

“We were disappointed in some Lebanese who forgot or claim to have forgotten the kingdom’s help for Lebanon,” he said, addressing those as saying: “I hope that you love Lebanon the way we love it and to stay away from anything that harms it politically, economically or security wise.”

Relations between Riyadh and Lebanon deteriorated in February when Saudi Arabia halted a grant to the army in protest against Hizbullah’s virulent criticism of the kingdom and Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil’s abstention from voting in favor of Arab League resolutions condemning attacks against the Saudi embassy in Iran in January.

The kingdom urged its citizens against traveling to Lebanon.

Gulf countries also issued similar advisories.

On the presidential vacuum, Asiri urged the Lebanese to elect the “appropriate president.”

He concluded by saying: “Despite the regional challenges I am not afraid for Lebanon. What we see of regional developments lead me to be optimistic about the fate and future of this country.”

Lebanon has been without a president since the term of president Michel Suleiman ended in May 2014.