Salam: Resolving Tragedy of Captive Soldier is a Main Priority

Prime Minister Tammam Salam stressed on Saturday that Lebanon will not be defeated by the challenges it is facing, especially terrorism, reported the National News Agency.

He said before a cultural delegation: “Resolving the tragedy of the captives soldiers and policemen is a main priority for us.”

He highlighted the importance of Lebanese unity that “will enable the people to overcome current hardships.”

Earlier, Salam had told As Safir newspaper that efforts to free the abducted soldiers have not ceased and that the terrorist groups who abducted them only aim to trigger Sunni-Shiite strife.

“Local and international efforts to solve this issue have not stopped since the beginning,” he said.

He continued expressing dismay at the situation that Lebanon has come to, noting: “If the situation were normal in the country and we had a president and parliament that works according to the norms, I would have said farewell to all the political parties and left.

“I am fed up with political conflicts...if we continue down this path Lebanon will turn into a political jungle,” reiterated Salam, while stressing that electing a president could be the solution to puting the state on the right track.

Lebanon entered into a stage of presidential vacuum as parliamentarians failed since May to elect a president to replace Michel Suleiman.

On the Lebanese soldiers abducted by the al-Nusra Front and Islamic State groups in the northeastern town of Arsal, Salam remarked that efforts to free them have been ongoing since day one.

“We kicked off efforts and contacts with internal parties, friendly and brethren countries like Qatar, Turkey and others in order to contribute to the liberation of the soldiers and we welcomed any effort,” he said.

“Since the beginning we had the choice to mediate with the kidnappers but not to the extent of running behind them because we too possess pressure cards to help us in the negotiations, but we need the help of the abductees' families.”

Heavy clashes erupted in August between the Lebanese army and terrorist armed groups who took around 35 soldiers and policemen hostage.

They have been demanding the release of Islamist inmates held in Roumieh prison, Lebanon's largest jail, in exchange for the soldiers and policemen.

Al-Nusra Front freed several of the hostages at different stages, but they have beheaded Lebanese army sergeant Ali al-Sayyed.

D.A./M.T.