The representative, Major General Ashraf Rifi, hosted a ceremonial iftar in honor of the Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon, Walid Bukhari, at his residence in Tripoli. The event was attended by several dignitaries, including MPs Taha Najji, Faisal Karami, Ihab Matar, Karim Kabara, former MP Rami Fanj, the Grand Mufti of Tripoli and the North, Sheikh Muhammad Imam, the Archbishop of the Maronite Archdiocese of Tripoli, Bishop Joseph Suwi, the Metropolitan of Tripoli and Koura for the Greek Orthodox, Bishop Ephraim Kyriakos, the Archbishop of Tripoli and the North for the Greek Catholic, Bishop Edward Daher, the Head of the Alawite Islamic Council in Lebanon, Sheikh Ali Qaddour, the Commander of the Northern Regional Forces of the Internal Security, Brigadier General Mustafa Badran, the Head of the Army Intelligence Branch in the North, Brigadier General Haroun Sayour, the Mayor of Tripoli, Dr. Abdul Hamid Karima, the Head of the Union of Municipalities of al-Fayha, Engineer Wael Zomrli, as well as several notables including Shouki Fattaf, Marwan Daher, Ibrahim Makdissi, Milad Dib, Abdul Rahman Marqabaoui, and Hassan Rifi. The event also saw the participation of the Secretary-General of the Supreme Relief Committee, Brigadier General Bassam Nabulsiy, the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tawfiq Dabbousi, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Special Economic Zone, Dr. Hassan Dnawi, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Rashid Karami International Fair, Dr. Hani Shaarani, the Head of the Finance Department in Tripoli, Waseem Marhaba, as well as businessmen Muhammad Adib, Samer Hilal, Hussam Shafiq, Manh Adib, and lawyer Hani Marraabi, along with a large gathering of figures.
Rifi began his speech by welcoming Ambassador Bukhari, stating, “We affirm that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s closeness to the Lebanese people, particularly in the city of Tripoli, instills in our hearts a sense of reassurance and hope, for the Kingdom has always been a support for Lebanon, a guardian of its journey, and a backer of development and stability in brotherly Arab countries, with Lebanon at the forefront.”
He added, “Your return to Tripoli carries not only a political or diplomatic significance but also a profound national and popular dimension, which sows great hope in the hearts of its citizens and signals a promising phase where we look forward to growth and prosperity that encompasses the city and all of Lebanon.”
He extended his greetings to Presidents Joseph Aoun and Nawaf Salam, considering that “the new era and the current government have rekindled the spirit of hope in the hearts of…”
