BEIRUT: Lebanese Minister of Trade and Economy Amin Salam has underline the “positive intentions” of his remarks about Kuwait, saying that his country has been appreciating Kuwait throughout history. This came in a news conference held by Salam to clarify his statement regarding rebuilding wheat silos at Beirut’s port and call for Kuwait to help his country. Salam reiterated that Lebanon is keen on the deep-rooted and historic relations with Kuwait.

He said in the statement that Kuwait could do that with a “stroke of a pen”, indicating he meant by using this phrase as “normal Lebanese language colloquial phrase” that rebuilding the silos could be speedily implemented. He elaborated that he did not mean by this phrase to “transgress the principles, and constitutional and legal mechanisms” in force by Kuwait or by Lebanon. Salam noted that he wanted to clarify these matters properly as being minister of trade and economy, and head of food security committee in Lebanon.

He went on to say that his statement was a reply to some media and news questions on the anniversary of the explosion of Beirut’s Port falls on August 4. He stressed that he is aware of the matters and decisions in Kuwait that are taken in line with a constitutional and institutional process.” Salam, finally, expressed his hope that brothers in Kuwait would accept his clarification. Reassuring safety Meanwhile, Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati has commissioned Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Abdullah Bou Habib to communicate with Arab brothers to reassure them about the safety of their nationals in Lebanon.

In a statement issued by Mekati's media office, the premier followed up with Bou Habib and Minister of Interior and Municipalities Bassam Mawlawi on the developments related to the "warning statements" issued by the embassies of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Germany for their nationals in Lebanon. In added that available information reached after discussing with the military and security leaders revealed that the "overall security situation in general does not call for concern or panic".

It noted that the political and security contacts on addressing the events of Ain Al-Hilweh camp of Palestinian refugees made progress. The statement indicated that matters are currently under "close monitoring" to ensure general stability and prevent any "security infringement or targeting" citizens, residents, and Arab and foreign tourists in Lebanon.

Mekati asked Mawlawi to call for a meeting of the Central Security Council to discuss "the challenges facing Lennon in these regional conditions to take required decisions so as to maintain security in all parts in Lebanon, it stated. The refugee camp has been witnessing armed clashes between some Palestinian factions over a week that killed 13 people and wounded 60 others. - KUNA