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Why did Hariri go to Cairo before returning home to Lebanon?

To spare the Middle East another battleground, Cairo played a role in containing the crisis of the resignation of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri.
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CAIRO — As Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi welcomed Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Nov. 21, he stressed the importance of preserving Lebanon's unity and the need to disassociate the country from the conflicts raging in the Middle East. Egypt and Lebanon are bound by a strong relationship that dates back to the 1940s.

A presidential statement issued on Nov. 21 stated that Sisi met with Hariri to discuss the latest developments in Beirut in the wake of Hariri’s abrupt resignation. During his meeting with Hariri, Sisi emphasized the need for the Lebanese parties to uphold the supreme national interest of the Lebanese people and reject any foreign interference in their internal affairs.

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