Report: Aoun Plans to Reactivate Saudi Arms Grant in Visit to Kingdom
The first visit that the newly elected President Michel Aoun will make is to Saudi Arabia where he plans to push for the reactivation of the Saudi grant to arm the Lebanese army after it was halted early this year, As Safir daily reported on Saturday.
Preparations for the visit are ongoing, and the exact date will be set after the formation of the cabinet and after the cabinet wins a vote of confidence, added the daily.
Sources close to the Foreign Minister told As Safir that Aoun does not want to restrict his visit to protocol measures, but wishes to give it a political character that includes a Saudi announcement of reactivating the 3 billion dollar grant for the armament of the Lebanese army with French weapons.
The issue has been raised between French and Lebanese authorities earlier and the efforts of both parties are expected to push in that direction.
An unnamed Lebanese official said that Aoun, being a Lebanese, Arab and Christian character, will try to build bridges between the Sunnis and Shiites and plans to visit Riyadh and Tehran in an attempt to display a new leading role for the Christians in the region.
In February 2016 Saudi Arabia halted a $3 billion program for military supplies to Lebanon in protest against Hizbullah's policies and diplomatic stances by the Lebanese foreign ministry.
The $3 billion program financed military equipment provided by France.
Lebanon received the first tranche of weapons designed to bolster its army against jihadist threats, including anti-tank guided missiles, in April 2015 but the program then reportedly ran into obstacles.
Alleged leaders of Hizbullah are under sanctions by Saudi Arabia.
Hizbullah is supported by Saudi Arabia's regional rival Iran, with whom relations have worsened this year.
Riyadh cut diplomatic ties with Tehran in January after demonstrators stormed its embassy and a consulate following the Saudi execution of a prominent Saudi Shiite cleric and activist.
12 November 2016, 08:52
111
Aoun Plans to Reactivate Saudi Arms Grant in Visit to Kingdom
I doubt he will be able to do that considering that flamethrower aka mowaten has repeatedly said KSA will not activate the grant without an (M14) president.
"..-flamethrower-.
"France is currently discussing with Lebanon the delivery of arms to the Lebanese military under a $3 billion Saudi grant."
another M14 lie in the light of what KSA said: they will not activate the grant without an (M14) president."
12 November 2016, 11:43
211
wow a great and long piece of poetry! You are a verified sectarian troll who has been caught countless times. People like @eagledawn only do this forum a service by exposing the lowlife that you are.
Live with it, eat your own words and stop whining.... or stfu.
12 November 2016, 16:55
16
I respect Mr. Flamethrower because he never said KSA will not activate the grant without an (M14) president.
12 November 2016, 19:35
06
I respect Mr. libanobrasil2 because he keeps us guessing as to what religion he is.
12 November 2016, 11:47
112
so all of a sudden the saudi grant is not a mirage or a joke like you used to say several times a day; a grant that includes second hand military shoes, rusty rifles, and french language courses.
Pathetic troll !
12 November 2016, 12:08
03
1 billion dollars yea right. Where is that 1 billion dollars or the 3 billion dollars promised over a year ago. Stop embarrassing yourself dude.
12 November 2016, 12:09
03
final touches final touches loooooooooooooool 7elwe mennak @merkin
12 November 2016, 12:34
16
Every time I read articles about the saudi arms to to the LAF I remember you dear flamethrower and wonder how you are as you put the final touches to your final destination while laying in pieces and tranquility..... RIP Shia Hero
12 November 2016, 13:03
19
the joke did not happen between 2013 and 2016 was because sewer mouths like you and the aounis kept insulting Saudi Arabia and mocking the grant. Let's not forget your leader nassrallah and his "inspired' and "sectarian" speeches against KSA and the historic stances of the hezbollah miracle foreign minister against KSA after the burning of the Saudi Embassy in Iran.. But now thanks to aoun the joke will be re-activated and those old used boots will become shiny and new.
12 November 2016, 13:14
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@flamethrower
How will aoun change the joke? The orders have already been placed. The arms have already been chosen. The French factories were already manufacturing the arms.
Or does Aoun now being the president make this saudi grant not a "joke" ya joke!
12 November 2016, 13:20
17
نعى حزب "التوحيد العربي" في لبنان، بزعامة الوزير السابق وئام وهاب، أمس الجمعة، 7 من مرتزقته الذين قتلوا خلال مشاركتهم القتال إلى جانب قوات الأسد في ريف القنيطرة جنوب سوريا.
وأعلنت أمانة الإعلام في "حزب التوحيد العربي" في بيان لها، أن 7 من مقاتلي الحزب قُتلوا "أثناء تأديتهم واجبهم القومي في مواجهة الجماعات الإرهابية المسلحة في بلدة حضر السورية".
12 November 2016, 14:26
15
flameirani
the weapons were given to DynCorp in yemen? LOL
have you stopped taking your pills for dementia?
12 November 2016, 14:28
19
so you avoided the arguments that debunked your iranian propaganda and went off on a tangent on the peripherals of lala land. hehe
12 November 2016, 20:27
07
flamethrower is visibly embittered.. so it harasses the readership and uses violent vocabulary because reasons..
so it barks, it yaps, it's a nuisance. it's flamethrower: D.
12 November 2016, 23:11
02
Still trying to pass for a Cristhians, if first you don't succeed try try again whahahahahaha
13 November 2016, 04:16
04
@texas
If you want to recount nassrallah's lies and broken promises you would fill pages. One that sticks out was him saying whoever wins the parliamentary elections let them govern. M14 won the elections and his first demand after the elections was national unity government and 1/3 veto power.
