Opposition’s Call to Eliminate Political Sectarianism Dubious
During a meeting held with the Notre Dame University student body, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea cast doubt on the opposition’s motives behind their calls for eliminating political sectarianism and questioned its timing. He said it is an attempt to “evade” the ongoing discussions on the national defense strategy and the Resistance clause in the Ministerial Statement.
Geagea also said that the opposition wants to maintain the same clauses adopted in the 2008 Ministerial Statement pertaining to the national defense strategy and the presence of weapons outside the state’s jurisdiction.
He also stressed that the term “resistance” is not even mentioned in the Taif Accord, “contrary to the opposition’s claims.”
He cited the introduction of the constitution, which stipulates that there is no legitimacy to any authority that contradicts the National Pact. Geagea said that “the same logic applies to weapons outside the state’s jurisdiction.”
Geagea stressed that it would be illegitimate for the opposition to include the Resistance in the Ministerial Statement, adding that the majority of the Lebanese oppose the legitimization of the Resistance’s arms “as proven by the 2009 parliamentary elections results.”