Saudi Arabia to appoint ambassador to Lebanon

Beirut - Saudi Arabia's former ambassador left Beirut last summer, and the post has been vacant since.

Saudi Arabia will appoint a new ambassador to Lebanon, encourage the return of Saudi tourists and increase flights there by Saudi airlines, the Lebanese president's office said, in a sign of improved bilateral ties.
The Kingdom's Gulf Affairs Minister Thamer Al Sabhan informed President Michel Aoun of the changes when they met at the presidential palace on Monday, Aoun's office said in a statement.
Saudi Arabia's former ambassador left Beirut last summer, and the post has been vacant since.
Aoun sought to mend relations with Saudi Arabia's Monarchy, which has traditionally backed Hezbollah's opponents in Lebanon, when he visited Riyadh earlier this month.
Aoun said his visit had helped improve ties, after tensions linked to the regional rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran led Riyadh to cancel $3 billion of military aid to Beirut last year.
Lebanon's president had also hoped his trip would result in a lifting of travel advisories imposed by some Gulf states last year on nationals visiting Lebanon, which severely damaged its tourism sector.
Last year, Riyadh also advised big-spending Saudis not to visit Lebanon.

• MENA