Head of Lebanese-Saudi Economical Relations Commission: Rhetoric against Saudi Arabia will be toned down

Head of the Lebanese-Saudi Economical Relations Commission, Elie Rizk, said Friday that the currently undertaken task by members of the Commission to safeguard the interest of Lebanese expatriates in Saudi Arabia and GCC nations is yielding positive results.

Rizk’s comments were made during a phone call with LBCI's Nharkom Said TV show whereby he noted that the commission held a meeting with Loyalty to the Resistance bloc MP Mohammad Raad during which he asserted that the rhetoric against Saudi Arabia will be toned down.

He also said that Speaker Nabih Berri told the delegation that Lebanese nationals currently residing in the gulf region should be advised to take a distance from politics in order to avoid deportation.

On Thursday, Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil stressed that Lebanon is keen to maintain good relations with all Arab countries, mainly Saudi Arabia.
Bassil’s comments were made during a meeting with a delegation from the Lebanese Business and Investment Council in Saudi Arabia whereby he noted that “the foreign ministry adopted a policy that prioritizes the interests of the Lebanese community abroad.”

He also called for the appointment of an economic charge d'affaires in Saudi Arabia to strengthen the economic ties between the two countries.

Top Lebanese businessmen based in Saudi Arabia are holding meetings with various Lebanese officials to discuss "Hezbollah’s latest campaign on the kingdom."

Hezbollah has been recently directing criticism at Saudi Arabia over its airstrike campaign targeting Yemen's Shiite Houthi rebels.

Hezbollah has warned the kingdom that it would be defeated and would pay a hefty price for its attacks.

There are around 500,000 Lebanese expats in the Gulf region.

Last month, the United Arad Emirates, which hosts 100,000 Lebanese workers, expelled around 70 expatriates, mainly from the Shiite community.