Caretaker Prime Minister received on Thursday at the Center House the Assistant Secretary General of the Arab League, Ambassador Hossam Zaki, Ambassador Abdul Rahman Solh and the accompanying delegation.

After the meeting, Zaki said: "I was honored to meet with Prime Minister Hariri, and it was a good opportunity to listen to his vision regarding the current situation. I conveyed to him a message from the Arab League Secretary General on the situation in Lebanon. As I said today, we are worried about the situation, because it gathers the elements of the political crisis and the critical economic situation, as well as the street protests. Everyone knows that the street protests, as recognized by all Lebanese politicians and Lebanese leaders, have legitimate demands and we appreciate and understand that. 

But this movement has an economic cost that increases the seriousness of the situation. All this requires to support the Lebanese and Lebanon.

We came to lend a helping hand to Lebanon, and to tell this country that you are not alone. And just as the Arab League helped Lebanon in many previous situation, it stands with it and wants to help it in this crisis. The biggest burden lies on the Lebanese themselves since they know their country, and our role is to help politically, economically or otherwise, and we are here to help." 

He concluded: "We hope the best for this dear country and wish it success in reaching a solution for this crisis soon."

Separately, Hariri sent letters to the French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, expressing his condolences for the victims of the collision of two French helicopters in Mali that led to the death of 13 French soldiers.