Abdullah, Assad, and Al Thani… Call for Boosting National Unity in Face of Outside Threats

The Lebanese capital Beirut witnessed a historic and unprecedented visit on Friday, as Syrian President Bashar Al Assad and Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz landed "together" in Beirut, where they were expected to hold summits and meet officials. Following this "dual-visit" was an arrival of Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.

The visit was believed to be historic for many reasons, at the top of which comes the identity of the guests as well as the nature of the current stage, considered by all Lebanese to be accurate and sensitive.

There was a relaxing atmosphere that prevailed in the country following its mere announcement, as one week ago; Lebanon seemed to be heading towards a definite crisis from the gate of an "already written" verdict accusing Hezbollah of being involved in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri.

Right after the two leaders' arrival to the Baabda Presidential Palace, a short summit took place between them and President Michel Suleiman. The three rulers were then joined by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Saad Hariri.

The expanded talks that took place soon after were attended by Foreign Minister Ali Al Shami, his Syrian and Saudi counterparts Walid Al Moallem and Saud Al Faisal respectively, Syrian presidential advisor Buthaina Shaaban, and head of the Saudi intelligence service Prince Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz.

The statement issued by the Lebanese presidency following the mini-statement said that visiting Syrian President Bashar Al Assad and Saudi King Abdullah on Friday urged Lebanese parties to avoid resorting to violence in the face of mounting political tensions in the country. "The leaders stressed the importance of stability... the commitment of the Lebanese not to resort to violence and the need to place the country's interests above all sectarian interests," the statement said, stressing the need to "resort to legal institutions and Lebanon's unity government to resolve any differences."

The statement urged Lebanese parties to "pursue the path of appeasement and dialogue and to boost national unity in the face of outside threats," referring to "Israel". The Saudi and Syrian leaders said they stood in solidarity with Lebanon "in the face of "Israel's" daily violations of its sovereignty and its attempts to destabilize the country."

Asked about the outcome of the brief talks as he left the presidential palace, the Syrian leader said "The discussions were excellent."

The talks were followed by a luncheon banquet in honor of King Abdullah and President Assad, attended by a number of ministers, MPs, major military and security officials, and a number of Arab and foreign ministers.

Saudi and Syrian flags were on display throughout the Lebanese capital on Friday along huge portraits of the king carrying a welcome message. Security was also tight, with additional army and police deployed.

Former presidents, the heads of political parties who are not MPs and religious leaders have not been invited to the luncheon, making the Phalange Party the most notable absentee. Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea was also uninvited.

One week ago, Geagea said that he would attend a ceremony in honor of President Bachar Assad in case "he was invited." However, it seems he received a "message" as he was not invited, reflected in Syrian daily Al Watan which described him as "undesirable."

Abdullah visited Beirut for the first time as Saudi king. He had attended the Arab summit in Beirut in 2002 when he was still crown prince. He became the first Saudi monarch to visit the country since 1957.

As for Assad, he visited the Lebanese capital after an eight-year absence to consolidate the resumption of normal ties between the two countries following five years of tension that erupted after Hariri's assassination in February 2005.

On the other hand, President Suleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Saad Hariri welcomed the Qatari emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani at the Beirut Rafik Hariri International Airport, who arrived to Beirut on Friday as well, just around one hour after Saudi King Abdullah and Syrian President Bashar Al Assad concluded their visit.
Al Thani is staying until Sunday as he is to meet separately with Lebanese leaders and is due to visit the south of the country.

Emir of Qatar attended an expanded meeting with President Suleiman and other officials; followed by a closed-door one between the emir and the Lebanese president, and then a dinner banquet honoring Al Thani.

President Michel Suleiman on Friday highlighted Qatar's influential role in reaching the Doha Accord, which helped restore calm in Lebanon following the infamous May 7 clashes, in addition to its role in "the reconstruction process, especially after the July aggression and the issuance of Resolution 1701."

During a dinner banquet thrown in honor of visiting Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who arrived in Lebanon on a 3-day official visit, Suleiman announced: "The talks tackled the concerns of the Arab nation and the international community -- which is calling for combating terrorism and working on achieving permanent development despite its blatant laxity in the face of "Israel's" acts."

The president thanked the emir of Qatar "for supporting Lebanon's causes in international forums."

"We are working on sparing the Lebanese the threats through the means of unity and wisdom," Suleiman announced.

For his part, Sheikh Hamad addressed the invitees at the dinner banquet by saying: "We want Lebanon to preserve its unity and to remain free and sovereign under all circumstances and in the face of all pressures."

"Our visit to Lebanon coincides with the joint visit of the Saudi king and the Syrian president, and we laud these efforts that aim to back Lebanon and safeguard it against sliding toward a situation only its enemies would benefit from," emir of Qatar added.

The Emir, accompanied during the visit by his wife Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned, will tour in the South Saturday. he will head to Speaker Berri's southern hometown of Al Msaileh where he will attend a lunch banquet thrown in his honor.

Accompanying the emir also are his Personal Representative Sheikh Jassem bin Hamad al-Thani, Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Industry Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah as well as a high level official delegation.

Saturday evening the emir will arrive at the Center House in Beirut to attend a dinner banquet thrown in his honor by PM Hariri.

On August 1, Lebanon's Army Day, Sheikh Hamad will attend, alongside Lebanese leaders, the military parade celebrating the occasion.