Halting Saudi military aid to Lebanon affirmed

Manama, Feb 21 (BNA): Foreign Affairs Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa, in a press statement, affirmed the Saudi stance on halting military aid to Lebanon. The minister said that Lebanon should realize that it is part of the Arab nation and will always be supported at all situations, calling on Lebanon to stand by Arab nation. He denied that the intervention of forces participating in the Thunder of the North military exercises in Syria, stressing the exercise sends a clear message to terrorism and those who support it. He highlighted Russia as a major player and an ongoing Russian-US coordination on the situation in Syria. He added that the successful visit of HM the King to Russia has resulted in strengthening the Bahraini-Russian relations in various fields, chiefly in defence, economic and energy areas, emphasizing their importance to Bahrain. In response to a question on Bahrain's participation in ground operations in Syria, the minister made it clear that Bahrain is part of the international counterterrorism coalition and it has its role to play within the coalition, and that there are other countries to carry out the ground operation in Syria in accordance with their military capabilities. In regard to the transfer of the Arab summit from Morocco to Mauritania, and the impact of that on the date of session, he said that it is not the first time to happen, and that Mauritania can either host the summit in Nouakchott as the President, or chair it in the Arab League headquarters in Cairo or Sharm El-Sheikh.