Hariri: Aoun urged me to postpone my resignation, I accepted

Hariri appreciated Michel Aoun for his wisdom, prudence and affection.

He wished for this decision to pave the way for establishing serious talks.

Lebanese PM underlined adhering to Taif Agreement, nonpartisan policy and trying to maintain brotherly ties with Arab countries.

The Taif Agreement (National Reconciliation Accord or Document of National Accord) was an agreement reached to provide 'the basis for ending of the civil war and the return to political normalcy in Lebanon'. Negotiated in Ta'if, Saudi Arabia, it was designed to end the decades-long Lebanese Civil War, reassert Lebanese authority in Southern Lebanon (then occupied by Israel), though the agreement set a time frame for Syrian withdrawal and stipulated that the Syrians withdraw in two years. It was signed on 22 October 1989 and ratified by the Lebanese parliament on 5 November 1989.

He stressed on prioritizing Lebanon's high-level interests and peaceful coexistence.

Hariri announced his resignation from premiership on Nov 4 from Riyadh in an unexpected move, but the Lebanese President Michel Aoun didn’t accept his resignation and urged him to return to Lebanon to detail on it.

Hariri left Riyadh for Paris on Saturday.

Most Lebanese, including the president, believe that Hariri and his family were in custody in Saudi Arabia and he has been coerced to resign. Some high-ranking authorities, like German ones, and international media believe the same thing.

With French President Emmanuel Macron and Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian’s mediation and international pressure, the Saudis let Hariri and his wife leave for Paris.

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