NNA - Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon, Walid al-Yaacoub, paid a protocol visit to former Prime Minister Najib Mikati at his Beirut residence on Monday.

Welcoming the newly-appointed diplomat, Mikati hoped the upcoming stage would witness further steps to bolster the relations with Saudi Arabia.

"Relations between our countries are the result of a history that is full with agreement and mutual respect and trust," Mikati said.

"Within this context, we warn of the peril of positions harming Lebanon and its historic ties with the Arab brothers, on top of whom the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," he added.

"We must all work in order to protect Lebanon and keep it away from what it has no capacity to bear," he stressed.

For his part, the Ambassador said, "Unfortunately, there are sides in Lebanon that do not want the ties with the Kingdom to be good. They are vehemently working on harming those relations. But we count on the wisdom of the Lebanese to solve this problem."

NNA - Former Prime Minister Najib Mikati stressed Sunday that "vacuum in the government presidency is not permissible," adding that his nomination for heading the cabinet is currently out of the question.

Mikati's words came following his meeting with Mufti of the Republic, Sheikh Abdel-Latif Derian, at Dar El-Fatwa this morning.

"I discussed with the Mufti ways to overcome the crisis in the country, deliberating at both the national and Sunni community levels," he added.

"We emphasized firm commitment to the Taef Agreement and the entire Constitution, without any trampling on the Constitution which preserves balances within the State and the roles of all components of the country," Mikati added.

Noting that he stressed to Mufti Derian the need to preserve the unity of the Sunni community in Lebanon, Mikati called on all parties to curb the verbal escalation, since the difficult situation requires Lebanese unity and safeguarding of the State.

In response to a question, Mikati disclosed that his candidacy for the presidency of the government was out of question at the moment, stating his intention to run in the next legislative elections in Tripoli.

"We will not allow any form of vacuum at the level of the government premiership. Lebanon is a country of balances and we must work so that the appropriate figure takes over this post, as agreed upon under the rooftop of Dar El-Fatwa," concluded Mikati.

NNA - Former Prime Minister, MP Najib Mikati, welcomed at his office on Tuesday Egyptian Ambassador to Lebanon, Nazih Al-Najjari. Talks between both men reportedly touched on the best means to boost Lebanese-Egyptian bilateral ties, as well as the most recent developments at the regional scene.

During his inauguration of the opening ceremony of the "International Conference on Scientific Research and its Role in Sustainable Development Societies" in Tripoli, Mikati gave a briefing on the parliament session discussions.

"The state is in need of additional financial resources, not only to fund the salary scale, but also to pay off the budget deficit," Mikati said.

He also added that he had reservations on the taxes imposed by the state, especially that they're void of a clear vision for the future.

NNA - Former PM Najib Mikati hoped that the electoral law drafted by former Minister Marwan Charbel would be proposed as "such law is not idealistc, but the best possible within the trend of Taef Accord and its complete implementation, especially concerning the formation of a council for senates."

Former PM Mikati's stance came Friday in the context of a press conference.

He defended Charbel's law draft as based on proportionality which was something positive to serve a fair popular representation especially for confessional and political minorities, not to mention that it ensures six parliamentary seats for Lebanese emigrants.

He underscored, "This law [Charbel's] is the most appropriate if we want a solution, not crisis...I think that remarks would be put by the wisdom of Speaker Nabih Berri, who, for his part, fragments the draft in a way suiting all local sides. I address all politicians to focus their aim on serving Lebanon's interest."

Mikati announced that he was setting his own electoral list in Tripoli with persons he already agreed with in this regard.