Qahwaji: Army Facing Threats to Prevent Turning Lebanon into Arena for Regional Conflicts

Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji on Friday noted that the army is confronting major threats to prevent Lebanon from being turned into an arena for regional conflicts, reassuring that the military institution is “capable of confronting the challenges.”

Qahwaji voiced his remarks during a meeting on the occasion of the new year with a delegation from the Association of Arab and Foreign Military Attaches in Lebanon, which was led by Russian military attache Maj. Gen. Raphael Kormachov. Representatives of the U.N. Truce Supervision Organization and the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) were also present at the meeting.

“As we protect our country and its coexistence, we in the army are offering a successful example of how the Lebanese institutions must be in terms of respecting the constitution and coexistence instead of resorting to absurd and uncalculated adventures,” said Qahwaji.

He stressed that the army's officers and soldiers “are loyal to the orders of their command and enjoy high readiness and discipline that qualify them for preserving civil peace and combating all forms of terrorism.”

“Terrorism is assassinating and targeting civilian areas and it has recently embarked on attacking the army in a manifest scheme aimed at undermining Lebanon's stability and unity and striking this institution which is confronting it,” the army chief added.

He underlined that the military institution “will keep combating terrorism, backed by brotherly and friendly countries.”

“You know the magnitude of threats that the army is facing to prevent Lebanon from being turned into an arena for regional conflicts,” Qahwaji told the military attaches.

“We appreciate your efforts all in helping us to safeguard Lebanon's stability and your endeavor to equip the army … because you know that it is capable of confronting the challenges … especially during this period of domestic and foreign junctures,” Qahwaji went on to say.

An adviser to French President Francois Hollande was in Beirut on Friday for talks with top Lebanese officials on the $3 billion Saudi pledge to buy military equipment for Lebanon from France.

Emmanuel Bonne, who is Hollande's adviser on North Africa and the Middle East, arrived on a several day official visit. He will be joined in the next couple of days by Admiral Edouard Guillaud, the chief of the defense staff.

Bonne met Friday with Speaker Nabih Berri, Premier-designate Tammam Salam and Phalange party leader Amin Gemayel.

The first item on the agenda of their talks is the announcement of Saudi Arabia last month to provide assistance to Lebanon in the form of $3 billion for the Lebanese army to strengthen its capabilities.

Qahwaji was in Paris last week for talks with top French military officials on the Saudi assistance.

Caretaker Premier Najib Miqati has also been informed by his Italian counterpart that Rome will host next month a conference to support the Lebanese army.