Lebanon’s president in Qatar for talks over Gulf crisis

Qatar has one of the largest natural gas reserves in the world and had been a major investor in Lebanon in the past

The talks come as Lebanon sinks deeper into its economic crisis, the worst in its modern history. (AP)

Lebanon’s president arrived in Qatar Monday for the opening ceremony of an Arab soccer tournament - and for talks on a diplomatic crisis between Beirut and oil-rich Gulf nations.

President Michel Aoun’s face-to-face meetings with the emir of Qatar and other officials come as Lebanon sinks deeper into its economic crisis, the worst in its modern history. The country’s financial meltdown, coupled with multiple other crises, has plunged more than three quarters of the nation’s population of six million, including a million Syrian refugees, into poverty.

Aoun is expected to discuss the tense relations between Lebanon and gulf nations led by Saudi Arabia during his meetings in Doha.

Aoun has repeatedly said that Lebanon wants excellent relations with Saudi Arabia, which lists Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. Aoun is a political ally of the Shiite militant group.

Saudi Arabia, a traditional backer of Lebanon, withdrew its ambassador from Beirut and asked the Lebanese envoy to leave last month following televised comments by George Kordahi, Lebanon’s information minister. Kordahi said the war in Yemen was futile and called it an aggression by the Saudi-led coalition.

Yemen’s war began with the 2014 takeover of Sanaa by the Houthi rebels, who control much of the country’s north. The Saudi-led coalition entered the war the following year, determined to restore the internationally recognized government and oust the rebels.

Aoun told Qatar’s Al-Raya daily that in face-to-face meetings, he will call on the country’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, to invest in the reconstruction of Beirut’s port that was destroyed last year in a massive blast.

Qatar has one of the largest natural gas reserves in the world and had been a major investor in Lebanon in the past.

However many countries have refused to invest in Lebanon or offer assistance to its government before it implements major reforms to fight the corruption and mismanagement that sparked the economic meltdown in 2019.On Tuesday,

Aoun will also attend the opening ceremony of the Arab Cup in which 16 teams will compete.

Aoun’s visit came as scores of protesters blocked major roads in Lebanon Monday to express anger against the country’s political class for the worsening economic crisis and harsh living conditions.

AP