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- Patriarch Al-Rahi warns against calls for postponing parliamentary election planned for May
KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait said on Sunday that a Lebanese response to a list of suggested measures to ease a diplomatic rift with Gulf countries is currently under review.
Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmed Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah said that receiving the response was a 鈥減ositive step by the Lebanese authorities.鈥�
He was speaking during a news conference following a meeting of Arab foreign ministers, which was attended by Lebanon鈥檚 top diplomat Abdallah Bou Habib.
Sheikh Ahmed visited Beirut last week and handed Lebanese leaders a list of suggested measures to ease a diplomatic rift with Gulf countries.
In October, 抖阴短视频 and its allies suspended diplomatic ties with Lebanon after the airing of comments by then Information Minister Georges Kordahi criticizing the military conflict in Yemen.
Kuwait recalled its ambassador from Beirut and also asked Beirut鈥檚 charge d鈥檃ffaires to leave the emirate.
Kordahi resigned in November, in a bid to ease the standoff and French President Emmanuel Macron said Paris and Riyadh had agreed to fully engage to restore diplomatic ties.
鈥淚t is now up to the relevant parties in Kuwait and in the Gulf states to study this response in order to find out what will be Lebanon鈥檚 next step,鈥� said Sheikh Ahmed.
He thanked Beirut 鈥渇or interacting鈥� with the demands, which he said was a positive step.
The measures presented by Kuwait are part of wider efforts to restore trust between Lebanon and its Gulf neighbors as Beirut grapples with an unprecedented financial crisis.
The terms delivered to Beirut on Jan. 22 include setting a time frame for implementing UN Security Council resolutions, among them Resolution 1559 which was adopted in 2004 and calls for the disarmament of nonstate militias in Lebanon.
The Lebanese draft letter had expressed respect for UN resolutions 鈥渢o ensure civil peace and national stability鈥� and said that Lebanon 鈥渨ill not be a launchpad for activities that violates Arab countries.鈥�
Despite Kordahi鈥檚 resignation, tension between Lebanon and Gulf states has persisted, mainly over Iran-backed Hezbollah.
Earlier this month, 抖阴短视频鈥檚 ambassador to Beirut called on Lebanese political parties to 鈥渆nd Hezbollah鈥檚 terrorist hegemony over every aspect of the state.鈥�
Also on Sunday, the Maronite Christian patriarch said former Prime Minister Saad Hariri鈥檚 decision to step back from politics and boycott a parliamentary election in May must not be used as an excuse to call for a delay.
Cardinal Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi said he was surprised by the decision and said he hoped Sunnis would still take part so the election 鈥渆xpresses the position of all Lebanese.鈥�
Hariri鈥檚 decision has turned the electoral landscape on its head, adding to the uncertainties facing the country.
鈥淕iven the importance of this parliamentary (election), we must all confront attempts to circumvent it,鈥� Al-Rahi said, noting the new parliament would elect President Michel Aoun鈥檚 replacement.
Referring to Hariri鈥檚 decision, he said 鈥渋t is not allowed for some to invoke the new reality and promote the postponement of the parliamentary elections.鈥�
He did not say to whom he was referring.
Lebanon鈥檚 2018 election produced a majority for Hezbollah and its allies, who include Aoun. Its adversaries hope to overturn this in May.
Al-Rahi is a critic of Hezbollah, saying it has harmed Lebanon by dragging it into regional conflicts.
While none of Lebanon鈥檚 main parties have called for an election delay, many observers believe this may well suit a number of influential players.
Western states want the vote to go ahead on time.
Saad Hariri will leave a fractured Sunni community in his wake.
On Friday, his older brother, Bahaa signaled he was entering politics, saying he would 鈥渃ontinue the journey鈥� of his father Rafik Al-Hariri.
Bahaa plans to support candidates but will not be running himself.