Lebanon's PM to Arrive in Egypt Tuesday After Unexpected Resignation

CAIRO (Sputnik) — According to Almustaqbal newspaper, which cites the Lebanese prime minister's press service, Saad Hariri will meet Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi during his upcoming visit to Egypt.

The Lebanese politician is currently in Paris, where he met French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday. 

Hariri traveled to Paris from Saudi Arabia, where he announced his decision to step down in a speech aired on Saudi television. Lebanese President Michel Aoun has not recognized the resignation of Hariri, echoing Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah's concerns that the statement could have been made under pressure by the Saudi authorities. Lebanese officials suggested that Hariri could have been forcibly held in Saudi Arabia, but he dismissed these allegations.

Jean-Paul Chagnollaud, the director of the Institute of research and studies on the Mediterranean and the Middle East (iReMMO) think tank, noted that France could succeed as a mediator, since it had good relations with all the countries involved in the crisis.     

Hariri expressed fear of assassination and criticized Iran and Hezbollah movement for attempts to destabilize the situation in the Middle East. He is expected to return to Beirut on Wednesday.

"With regard to the political situation in Lebanon, I will go to Beirut in the coming days, I will participate in the independence celebrations, and it is there that I will make known my position on these subjects after meeting President [Michel] Aoun," Hariri said after holding talks with Macron.