BEIRUT, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese former Prime Minister Najib Mikati said that King Salman of Saudi Arabia vowed to support Lebanon on all levels amid the country's economic challenges, local media reported on Tuesday.

"King Salman spoke of the historic ties between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia and the kingdom's keenness to maintain a stable Lebanon," Mikati was quoted as saying by Elnashra, an online independent newspaper.

Mikati added that King Salman also emphasized the importance of protecting the Taif Agreement.

The Taif Agreement restructured the National Pact political system in Lebanon by transferring some of the power away from the Maronite Christian community, which had been given a privileged status in Lebanon under French colonial rule. Prior to Taif, the Sunni Muslim prime minister was appointed by and responsible to the Maronite President. After Taif, the prime minister was responsible for the legislature, as in a traditional parliamentary system.

Former Prime Minister of Lebanon Tamam Salam reiterated Mikati's remarks by saying that the king called for the protection of the Taif agreement while adding that the kingdom wants to support Lebanon not only in tourism but on other levels as well.

"We hope that the kingdom extends his support to the military sector as well," Salam said. Enditem

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