Army and One State, No One Can Ask Me to Believe Otherwise
Defense Minister Elias Murr said Wednesday he "cannot but recognize" the army as the only body that should be in command of Lebanon”s weaponry.
After talks with Beirut Orthodox Archbishop Elias Audeh, Murr also urged politicians and the media to tone down the sectarian-charged rhetoric warning of its perils on the country and the military.
"As defense minister I cannot recognize any other weaponry but that of the Lebanese army," he replied to a question on efforts to draw a national defense strategy.
"I cannot have faith in a future for Lebanon if we have a state within a state and an army within an army. This is only natural," he told reporters.
Murr refused to go into more details pointing out that the matter was still under debate.
"The issue of weapons control has been on the table of national dialogue for a year, and political leaders have still not reached an answer," he said.
He said a viable solution is for Lebanon to have "only one army, one state and no statelets."
"Nobody can ask me as defense minister to accept any authority but the Lebanese army to have control over (Lebanon”s) weapons."
On the buildup to the polls, Murr agreed with Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir”s fears of the sectarian-charged atmosphere in the country.
"The (incitement) caused by candidates through the media does not facilitate the army”s challenging mission, but makes it all the more difficult…. The patriarch is right to be concerned," Murr said.
"Once the elections are over, who will compensate the people if the country descends into chaos because of such provocations? Will the candidates? Or will the political movements?" he asked.
He said candidates are "fully responsible for their statements which can cause a lot of harm" adding that the media cannot be blamed for "giving the contenders a voice."
Murr praised the military establishment and expressed faith in unity and steadfastness.