NNA - The means to bolster cooperation between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Lebanon featured high in talks held Monday between Saudi King Abdullah Ben Abdul Aziz and the President of the Republic Michel Sleiman in Riyadh.



Sleiman arrived this afternoon in KSA for talks with senior Saudi officials over "means to boost the historical ties of friendship and cooperation between Lebanon and the KSA, especially in light of developments at the regional scene," as mentioned in a statement by Baabda palace earlier.



"The pair discussed the perspectives of cooperation between the two countries and the means to enhance them in a way that serves the best interests of both countries and people on all fields," Saudi state-run news agency said.



"Both sides also tackled the latest developments on the local and international scenes and the positions of both countries from these events," it added.


Both Sleiman and King Abdullah reportedly highlighted the importance of preserving the political, economic, and security stability in Lebanon, as well as that of having all the Lebanese parties abide by the national principles and Baabda Declaration that would protect the country from unrest next door.



They also agreed over the necessity to reach a political solution to the 31-month-old conflict rattling Syria and to cease carnage and destruction.



Moreover, the meeting touched on the massive influx of Syrian refugees into Lebanon, with the Saudi King expressing readiness to help the country face the related burden.



Sleiman was scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia in late September, but the trip was postponed by the Saudi side.



====================R.A.H.