Qahwaji Rules Out Published Reports on Arms, Says Deals on 'Right Track'
Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji expressed on Thursday resentment from false news in publications, stressing that the two Saudi grants are on the right track.
“The weapons that are delivered to us as part of the two grants are new,” Qahwaji stressed in comments published in al-Mustaqbal newspaper.
The high-ranking military official revealed that Lebanon didn't receive any equipment or weapons under the two grants by Saudi Arabia.
“Agreements to equip the army with weapons worth $500 million - part of the $one billion grant by Riyadh – are on the right track,” Qahwaji pointed out.
The military commander noted that Lebanon had already signed the final deal with France, which was also inked by the Saudi Finance Minister, Ibrahim al-Assaf.
“Everything is on the right track according to the signed agreements,” he remarked, strongly ruling out rumors.
An Nahar newspaper published in its issue on Wednesday a report saying that countries which signed a deal with Lebanon to deliver arms to its military to better equip it have handed over arms shipments that are substandard.
The army, so far, only received old equipment, the daily reported.
An Nahar said that the two grants by Riyadh to boost the capabilities of the army are part of a one billion dollars and three billion dollars grants are below expectations.
Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri made a surprise visit to Lebanon to announce that Saudi Arabia has provided Lebanon's army with one billion dollars in aid.
In December 2013 Saudi Arabia had granted three billion dollars for the purchase of arms from France for the benefit of the Lebanese army.
France and Saudi Arabia signed the agreement in November to boost Lebanon's military as it struggles to contain a rising tide of violence linked to the civil war in Syria.
The Lebanese army is generally seen as a unifying force in Lebanon, and draws its ranks from all of the country's sects. But it has struggled to contain the escalating violence since the outbreak of the Syrian conflict.
Reports in November said that Paris will begin delivering weapons to the Lebanese military in the first quarter of 2015.
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Source: Agence France Presse
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