"Friends of Lebanon" Reiterate Government Support to Ensure State Monopoly on Arms and Restore Sovereignty Over All Territory

Beirut - Mansour Shaaban: The US Embassy in Beirut issued a statement to “Friends of Lebanon,” affirming support for Lebanon’s sovereignty and the state’s monopoly on weapons. It stated: “We, the embassies of the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Australia, Canada, and Japan, in our capacity as Friends of Lebanon, strongly reaffirm our support for the Lebanese government in ensuring that the state holds the exclusive monopoly on weapons, and that the state alone is the sole decision-maker in matters of war and peace.”

The statement added, “We note the steps taken by Lebanese authorities in the Dahr al-Bider case, and we encourage a swift and independent judicial process, free from any political interference, to ensure full accountability.”

It continued, “It is also essential for Lebanon, under current circumstances, to obtain a clear and public commitment from all members of the Parliament and all political parties affirming their support for the statements by the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister that the Lebanese state alone holds the right to decide on war and peace.” The signatories to the statement “reaffirmed their firm desire for the Lebanese state to fully regain its effective sovereign authority over all its territory.”

On another note, President General Joseph Aoun met with a delegation from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to discuss ways to expand investments and support the private sector in Lebanon. The Presidential Palace website reported that General Aoun told the delegation during his reception at Baabda Palace yesterday that Lebanon possesses significant human resources and a private sector with great potential, and that the current requirement is to translate international interest in Lebanon into concrete projects and investments, alongside continuing reforms and restoring confidence in the Lebanese economy.

Meanwhile, President Aoun emphasized, while receiving the second part of the book “Lebanon’s Official Neutrality and the Neutrality of Lebanese within the Framework of the Arab League, in Diplomacy, Culture, Memory, and Education” from former MP Michel Pharaon and the accompanying delegation, that “Lebanon is an independent and sovereign state, and we will not accept anyone sharing our sovereignty, so as not to pay again for the mistakes of the past.” He called on those who “seek strength from abroad against their own people” to “instead seek strength from their own people against external forces,” and considered that “positive neutrality is essential to keep Lebanon out of regional conflicts, as this country has already borne enough burdens and can no longer endure further divisive disputes, ambitions, and desires for hegemony.”