Saniora Urges Dialogue on Deploying Army on Border, Hizbullah's 'Return to the State'

Head of al-Mustaqbal bloc ex-PM Fouad Saniora on Tuesday called for launching national dialogue to discuss Hizbullah's withdrawal from Syria and the deployment of the army on the border between the two countries.

“Moderate and open dialogue is the way to confront problems in Lebanon, but reaching it requires an advanced stance and work,” Saniora said in a televised address.

“There cannot be a solution in Lebanon except through the formation of a competent government, so that the state can again become the only party that controls and possesses weapons” in the country, the former premier added.

He called for forming "a cabinet that does not comprise members of political parties, which can oversee the affairs of the state and citizens and their security during the transitional period until the election of a new president of the republic.”

Saniora warned that “the proliferation of non-state arms is the root of the problem and defying national consensus and civil peace might draw a response or a rebellion and weapons will lead to counter-weapons.”

The ex-PM called on Hizbullah to “return to the state and withdraw from Syria,” underlining that “the return of Hizbullah's arms to the state and its withdrawal from Syria would be the right way to achieve a breakthrough and prevent any strife.”

Saniora called for “launching national dialogue to discuss the remaining key issues and Hizbullah's exit from the insane and declared war against the Syrian people,” demanding the deployment of the army on the border with Syria.

Separately, the head of al-Mustaqbal bloc condemned the deadly suicide bombing outside the Iranian embassy in Beirut, saying he deplores “individual and collective assassinations” and stressing the need to “identify those who incited and plotted this crime and all the terrorist crimes that targeted innocents.”

“There is a national responsibility on everyone to stand in the face of terrorist activities,” Saniora noted.