Salam from Ain el-Tineh: No backing down from government decisions

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam noted Tuesday that “Hezbollah granted the government its confidence twice based on its ministerial statement which we are implementing.”

Noting that his relation with Speaker Nabih Berri “has never been severed,” Salam stressed from Ain el-Tineh that “there will be no backing down from the government’s decisions” on weapons monopolization.

Responding to a reporter’s question, the premier said “there is nothing called defense strategy, but rather a national security strategy,” adding that “the government is committed to preparing it within its institutions.”

He added that the army needs bigger support from the United States in terms of equipment, personnel and funding in order to extend its authority across Lebanon.

“The government agreed to the objectives of (U.S. envoy Tom) Barrack’s paper, which in addition to what was mentioned in the ceasefire agreement includes extra clauses such as support for the army and reconstruction,” Salam went on to say.