Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri has accepted an invitation to travel to Paris, the French foreign minister said yesterday. "He will come to France and the prince has been informed," said Jean-Yves Le Drian, referring to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman with whom he held talks late Wednesday. Asked about the date of the visit for talks with President Emmanuel Macron, Le Drian replied: "Mr. Hariri's schedule is a matter for Mr. Hariri."
French President Emmanuel Macron (R) with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri. pic/afp
Speculation has swirled around the fate of Hariri, who is a dual Saudi citizen. The French president's office said on Wednesday that Hariri and his family had been invited to France for a "few days" but that did not mean he would stay there in exile. Macron has stressed that Hariri should be able to return to Lebanon to confirm or withdraw his resignation in person.