Hariri to meet Macron in Paris on Saturday; Aoun sees 'start of a solution'

In this Sept. 1 2017 file photo, French President Emmanuel Macron, right, shakes hands with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri during a joint press conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris. Hariri has accepted an invitation to come to France after his surprise resignation nearly two weeks ago. (Ludovic Marin, Pool via AP, File)

PARIS: Lebanon’s prime minister Saad Al-Hariri will arrive in France on Saturday and meet French President Emmanuel Macron, a source inside the French presidency said.
Macron invited the Lebanese premier and his family to France on Wednesday, hoping to soothe a crisis triggered when Hariri announced his resignation 12 days ago.
Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun said Hariri’s decision to accept an invitation to Paris is the “start of a solution” to the crisis sparked by his resignation.
Hariri has been in Riyadh since announcing his shock resignation from there on November 4.
“We hope that the crisis is over and Hariri’s acceptance of the invitation to go to France is the start of a solution,” Aoun said on the official presidential Twitter account.
“I am awaiting the return of Prime Minister Hariri from Paris for us to decide the next step with regards to the government,” Aoun added.