Sabhan Says Rahi's Visit to SA Affirmation on Kingdom's 'Open Approach'

Saudi State Minister for Gulf Affairs Thamer al-Sabhan on Friday said the expected visit of Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi to Saudi Arabia affirms the Kingdom's “open approach.”

“Patriarch Rahi's expected visit to Saudi Arabia affirms the Kingdom's approach to rapprochement and peaceful coexistence to all Arab peoples,” said al-Sabhan in a tweet.

The Saudi Minister's remarks came after Saudi Arabia extended an invitation to Rahi to visit it.

On Wednesday, Rahi held talks in Bkirki with Walid al-Bukhari, the chargé d'affaires of the Saudi Embassy in Lebanon.

Bukhari described the visit as “historic”, he said: “I was honored to visit His Eminence, Patriarch al-Rahi, and I handed him an invitation to visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and meet with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdul Aziz, and His Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in a visit that is considered one of the most official visits.”