Salam: Lebanese state has regained war and peace decision

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stressed Tuesday that his government did not create from scratch “the decision to extend the state’s authority across its territory, seeing as this decision had been in place since 1989, or since the Taif Agreement.”

“Today we are working on implementing it and it was underscored in President Joseph Aoun’s inaugural speech and in the Ministerial Statement,” Salam added, in a meeting with a delegation from the Press Syndicate.

“Today what’s clear and tangible is that the Lebanese state has regained the war and peace decision,” Salam went on to say.

“The text of the cessation of hostilities agreement, which was approved by the previous government and to which we have confirmed our commitment, clearly identifies the sides that can bear arms, which are exclusively the Lebanese Army, the Internal Security Forces, General Security, State Security, the Customs administration, and municipal police,” the premier noted.

As for the government’s latest decisions on arms monopolization, Salam said: “We worked on approving a swift mechanism for many reasons and on August 5 we decided to task the Lebanese Army with implementing the plan away from any interferences or pressures as some are claiming.”

He added: “We welcomed the army’s plan and this welcoming was a positive approval. Some of the plan’s details were leaked, including deadlines, for example the three months for completing arms monopolization south of the Litani, in addition to containing weapons during the same period through prohibiting their use or transfer from one place to another.”

“The Army Command will submit monthly reports to the Council of Ministers regarding implementation,” Salam reminded.

As for U.S. envoy Tom Barrack’s paper, the prime minister said the government approved the paper’s objectives and “not the paper itself as being rumored.”

“Anything being said about extra conditions is a misconception, because the paper’s objectives are clear and were recited by the information minister clause by clause after the meeting. I challenge any Lebanese to oppose any of these objectives, whether in terms the halt of hostilities, full Israeli withdrawal, reconstruction or the return of the captives,” Salam added.

“In my latest meeting with Ambassador Barrack, I emphasized the need for pressing for Israel’s withdrawal from the five occupied points, the release of the captives and the cessation of attacks, and this is what we have been stressing daily,” the premier said.

As for the Shiite ministers’ walkout from the Aug. 5, Aug. 7 and Sep. 5 sessions, Salam stressed that “the National Pact is between Muslims and Christians and not between sects.”