Lebanese President stressed on Monday that the parliamentary elections planned in May 2018 will take place on time, noting that the issue of Hezbollah’s arms requires solution in the whole region.
During a live interview on Lebanese TV to mark his first year in office, President Aoun held a debate-format-session with heads of several local TV stations.
He started his address by saying: “I promised you I will overcome obstacles and secure stability in social economy and safety. Today, we need to go over what we achieved and what remains to be completed. We do not want a government without opposition.”
“The work to build [a state] is not easy, especially after the years that passed. It requires all Lebanese people to come together. Tonight I will speak with all honesty, far from all rumors and exaggerations.”
The president said that there are two reasons why the Lebanese Army has not monopolized the possession of arms in the country.
“The domestic reason is the shortage in weapons. The US army has offered some important weapons with which we fought the battle against terrorism. There is also a financial deficit preventing us from equipping the army,” Aoun said.
“The factors defining the situation of Hezbollah’s arms today are (U.N. Security Council) Resolution 1701, to which Hezbollah and the state are committed, the ministerial Policy Statement, and the memorandum of understanding that we reached with Hezbollah before I assumed the presidency. The rest of the problems are the Middle East problems that have reflected on us,” the president added.
“A solution in the Middle East would lead to a solution for the issue of Hezbollah’s arms.”
Source: Agencies
