Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri on Wednesday expressed regret for the absence of the Libyan delegation from the Beirut economic summit expected in the weekend, affirming that good ties with “ Arab brothers” must prevail.

Maronite leaders and lawmakers gathered in Bkirki stressed Wednesday that “no one has the right to create a new identity for Lebanon,” as they threw their support behind the presidency.

The summit was held following an invitation from Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi sounded the alarm on Wednesday during a “consultative” gathering in Bkirki, that brought the main Christian party leaders and deputies together, on the Lebanese unity and highlighted the need for a “national unified awakening” in order to protect the republic.

In opening remarks he made at the beginning of the meeting he said it aims to take into consideration the interests of Lebanon and the Lebanese.

The Lebanese embassy in Washington has reportedly sent a “confidential” cable to Beirut containing the United States' positions, which “rejects” Syria’s invitation to Beirut’s economic summit, and “threatens of imposing sanctions against Lebanon” shall it participates in the reconstruction of Syria, al-Akhbar daily reported on Wednesday.

MP Alain Aoun of the Strong Lebanon bloc stressed Tuesday that President Michel Aoun has not changed “his stance on Hizbullah,” describing reports claiming otherwise as “fictitious.”

The Free Patriotic Movement-led Strong Lebanon bloc on Tuesday condemned the removal of a Libya flag in Beirut at the hands of AMAL Movement supporters, saying that it “rejects any act that contravenes state authority because it would not be in Lebanon's interest.”

Caretaker Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil on Tuesday received a lengthy phone call from his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov during which a host of issues were discussed, the National News Agency reported.

They discussed “the issue of security and safety in Lebanon and the importance of preserving stability without linking the country to the region's problems, especially in terms of forming the government,” NNA said

Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Mohammad-Jalal Firouznia on Tuesday voiced support for efforts to form a new government led by Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri.

“We support all efforts aimed at forming a government led by Saad Hariri and we do not link it (the government) to any foreign developments,” Firouznia said after meeting Hariri at the Center House.

Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri held talks at the Center House with Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Mohammed Jalal Firouznia where talks focused on the latest developments in Lebanon and the region, and ways to promote ties between the two countries, Hariri’s media office said in a statement on Tuesday.

During the meeting, Hariri handed Firouznia a letter addressed to Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani requesting the release of Lebanese citizen Nizar Zakka, it added.

The Iranian embassy in Beirut on Tuesday responded to remarks voiced by U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale during his visit to Lebanon.

Describing Hale's statements as “blatant meddling in the affairs of others” and an attempt to “dictate decisions,” the embassy said Washington's strategy in Lebanon and the region is “based on creating wars and sowing discord between countries and the components of the same people.”