BEIRUT: U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly and Saudi officials reiterated support for Lebanon as the United Nations official concluded his visit to the kingdom. 

A statement from Plumbly’s office, issued after he visited Riyadh Monday, said discussions with Saudi officials focused on “the support agenda for Lebanon and the region ahead of the conference on Syrian refugees which is to be held in Kuwait on Jan. 15, and following the meetings of the International Support Group for Lebanon which was inaugurated in New York in September.” 

He warmly welcomed the very generous pledge of assistance from Saudi Arabia recently announced by President Michel Sleiman, the statement said. 

Last week, Sleiman announced that Saudi Arabia had pledged a $3 billion donation to buy French weapons for the Lebanese Army. 

During his Riyadh visit, Plumbly met with senior Saudi officials, including the Second Deputy Prime Minister Prince Muqrin Bin Abdulaziz, and the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Abdulaziz Bin Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz.