Lahoud says every effort must be made to reduce tensions
Minister of State Nasib Lahoud said the every effort must be made to reduce tensions that have accumulated from Lebanon’s painful history.
After meeting with Turkish Ambassador Serdar Kiliç and then Chinese Ambassador Liu Zhiming on Friday, Lahoud said he appreciated the way Lebanese Forces Leader Samir Geagea and Marada Leader Sleiman Franjieh were handling last Wednesday’s shooting in Koura and allowing the legal system to complete its investigation.
Lahoud said that while Hezbollah’s weapons would be dealt with through dialogue, the spread of all other weapons, not directly related to defending the country against Israel, needed to be stopped. Lahoud said these weapons needed to be removed immediately through a security plan that ensured safety for all.
When asked about Hezbollah’s refusal to disarm, even after the liberation of Shebaa Farms, Lahoud said, “This is not our opinion, Lebanon is not supposed to relinquish any of its power, but these weapons must be regulated by the state, through a plan that integrates the weapons into the army…This is the best way to defend Lebanon, before and after the liberation of Shebaa Farms.”