Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar said there are two opinions when it comes to drafting the ministerial statement, the first of which is adopting the previous ministerial statement, which got the vote of confidence in 2005, especially regarding the issue of weapons. “This is the opinion of the March 8 forces,” Najjar told the Future News Channel Wednesday.
“There have been several developments since the previous ministerial statement was drafted, such as the release of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, the Doha Agreement and President Sleiman’s inaugural speech, all of which the ministerial statement must take into consideration, and this is the second opinion.” Najjar said.
Najjar said that the country’s defense strategy will be discussed during the national dialogue roundtable. “The discussion within the ministerial statement drafting committee is about the expression: ‘The Resistance’s right to possess weapons.’”
“It is in Syria’s interest to keep the Hezbollah-weapons card in its hand during its negotiations with Israel. Also, Iran has an interest in using the Hezbollah-weapons card in its negotiations with the US,” Najjar said.
Najjar said President Sleiman’s statement that Lebanon should benefit from the Resistance’s weapons in case of any aggression against it was important. “However, war-and-peace decisions must be made by the Lebanese state.”
“There has been a positive development in Hezbollah’s stance on the issue of weapons,” Najjar noted.
Najjar added that Lebanon is witnessing the beginnings of a new stage regarding Lebanese-Syrian relations. “Even PM Fouad Siniora is convinced of this.”
“There is a group within the March 14 forces that has agreed with President Michel Sleiman on turning a new page with Syria. But this does not mean dropping our primary demands,” Najjar said, noting that renewing Lebanese-Syrian relations requires reviewing the agreements signed between the two states.
Najjar also said there is a lack of evidence about the Lebanese who are missing or detained in Syrian prisons, but “President Sleiman can do a lot about this.”
Najjar added that all parties committed themselves during the Doha Agreement to participate in the upcoming legislative elections with honesty and integrity.
Najjar concluded that all Lebanese are concerned about the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, adding that he will make his best efforts keep the tribunal free from outside interference or politicization.