MP Ghassan Skaf commented Sunday on the Iranian-Saudi agreement, saying: “If we look at the terms of the agreement, we see that there is a very important clause, which is non-interference in the affairs of other countries and respect for the sovereignty of countries, and this means that a president will not be imposed on Lebanon, as there will be advantages to the Iranian-Saudi agreement…For whoever believes that this agreement will be in the interest of one party over another, I think he will be disappointed, because in my opinion this agreement will be in the interest of a settlement, after which there will be a settlement president in Lebanon.”
“We hope that we have reached the moment of Lebanon’s separation from external influences, which would enable it to yield a president for the republic,” he said.
Referring to the the parliamentary delegation’s visit to Stockholm, Skaf revealed, in an interview with the media, that “three main issues were the focus of discussions with the Swedish officials,the first being the presidency and health dossier through the establishment of a sovereign fund under the supervision of the European Union for cancer patients, and the issue of Syrian displacement.”
Skaf explained that the Lebanese delegation’s 72-hour visit to Stockholm in Sweden came at the invitation of the Swedish parliament and government, where meetings were held with the foreign and financial committees and representatives of the Swedish government.
He indicated that the meeting was fruitful, “for we had a fear that Lebanon might deviate from the calendar of international concerns, which is a main reason for accepting the invitation to Sweden.”
On the presidential level, the MP said they discussed with the Swedish officials the importance of electing a Lebanese president through an internal decision, with the nomination of a presidential candidate resting with the Lebanese Parliament since that is sovereign issue.
“We asked Sweden to make efforts to support the holding of the presidential election as speedily as required,” Skaf added.
On the health issue, he indicated that talks touched on the health sector and the sufferings of patients in Lebanon, where emphasis was made on the importance of establishing a sovereign fund under the supervision of the European Union, as Sweden will secure the fund to support patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy in Lebanon.
The issue of Syrian displacement and its repercussions on Lebanon was also a focus of discussion with most of the parliamentary and governmental groups that the delegation met in Sweden, where Skaf indicated that they conveyed Lebanon’s appreciation to the Swedish state for its contribution to supporting the displaced Syrians, but today there is a need to control these matters. He said: “We are looking forward to a solution to this issue, and the Swedish government has asked us to raise this matter with the European Union, and we will do so, but it also requested that the Lebanese government conducts extensive contacts towards a solution.”
Source: National News Agency – Lebnon