Assiri: There Are Only Suggestions and Not a Saudi-Syrian Initiative

Saudi Ambassador Ali Awad Assiri has denied there was a Saudi-Syrian initiative aimed at stirring Lebanon out of its crisis, saying Riyadh and the international community were keen on seeing an inter-Lebanese agreement over the deadlock.

“There is no Saudi-Syrian initiative for a solution. There are suggestions,” Assiri told As Safir daily in an interview published Friday.

“We see ourselves as centrists and seek to serve Lebanon by sowing ties with all sides” in the country, Assiri said in response to a question.

He also said that Riyadh’s ties with Tehran are “good and continuously improving.”

When asked about the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, Assiri told As Safir: “No one knows the content of the indictment or when it will be issued. It should be dealt with professionally.”