PM Tammam Salam concluded his visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with a press conference on Tuesday, whereby he thanked the Kingdom for its generous and "unprecedented" grant of three billion US Dollars to the Lebanese army.

Prime Minister Tammam Salam concluded his visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with a press conference on Tuesday, whereby he thanked the Kingdom for its generous and "unprecedented" grant of three billion US Dollars to the Lebanese army. He also asserted that Lebanese presidential election is an entirely Lebanese matter.

The visit brought together Salam with top Saudi officials, namely Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and the Crown Prince. Talks focused on current developments and means of bolstering Saudi-Lebanese ties, particularly with the recent return of Saudi nationals to Lebanon. The PM confirmed that further cooperation would occur between the two countries.

"We deliberated over many of [Lebanon's] concerns, mainly the exacerbated number of Syrian refugees. This is a matter of great trepidation for us in Lebanon and we cannot face it without help and Saudi will be a pioneer among those taking initiative to aid us in mending this situation."

Salam also met with former PM Saad Hariri in the Kingdom and discussed endeavors to hold presidential elections on the constitutional due date.

"We are working for [the election] to be achieved in Lebanon and not outside it and we benefit from Saudi support," he said, adding that the KSA was keen on accord among all Lebanese factions.

In case deputies failed to elect a president, Salam assured the Lebanese that the Cabinet would take over as part of its executive authority. However, he hoped that things would not come to that.

Salam voiced relief towards the economic situation in the country and hoped that all investors would soon return to Lebanon.