Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri met with Arab ambassadors Thursday to discuss the implementation of a national counterterrorism strategy.
At the meeting in his downtown Beirut residence, Hariri said the strategy should be restricted to the Lebanese Army and security forces. He argued, however, that the presidential void stretching from last May should be resolved first.
Hariri also said a counterterrorism strategy should not be adopted by Lebanon alone, urging other Arab states to follow suit.
According to a statement released by his media office, Hariri met Wednesday with the ambassadors from Morocco, Qatar, Jordan, Algeria, Sudan, Tunisia, Kuwait and Palestine, as well as the chargé d'affaires at the Saudi Arabian, Yemeni, Iraqi and Emirati embassies.
Hariri discussed with them the domestic situation, saying a relative stability has prevailed. This stability, he said, was the product of strenuous efforts to distance the country from the Syrian crisis.
But the ongoing war in Syria, coupled with Hezbollah’s intervention in the conflict, has exposed Lebanon to grave threats, he added.
According to the statement, Hariri also discussed the ongoing dialogue sessions between the Future Movement and Hezbollah, reiterating that the talks served to diffuse sectarian tensions.
The former premier also expressed hopes that the talks would lead to a consensus between the rival parties on electing a new president.
