Lebanese Parliament renews confidence in the government with 68 votes

Beirut - 16 - 9 (KUNA) -- The Lebanese Parliament renewed its confidence in the government of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Wednesday by a vote of 68 in favor, 12 against, and two abstentions, concluding a two-day session of questioning the government on several files.

In a speech delivered shortly after the vote, Salam stated that "the citizen who demands the presence of the state is right, and the one who complains of its absence is also right in their complaint." He clarified that the tripartite framework agreement with the Israeli occupation is "a political framework for negotiations, not an agreement or treaty in the legal sense."

Salam added that the framework agreement, reached under U.S. mediation last June, includes a phased withdrawal of the Israeli occupation from Lebanon and supports the extension of the Lebanese state's sovereignty, and no one else's, over its territory. He emphasized that Lebanon's position is stronger "when everyone stands behind the state."

He acknowledged that the expected outcomes of the framework agreement "have not yet been fully realized," noting that attacks by occupation forces have not ceased and that they have not withdrawn from all Lebanese territory.

Salam affirmed that the negotiation track "has not yet ended," considering that strengthening national unity and extending the state's authority "enhance Lebanon's strength in securing its rights."

The Lebanese Prime Minister pointed out that restoring the confidence of brothers and friends in the institutions enabled Lebanon to mobilize greater Arab and international support for the army and reconstruction. He confirmed that the government pursues "a policy that rejects Lebanon becoming a battleground for axis conflicts and works to put an end to the logic of dependency or reliance on external powers."

Regarding relations with Syria and the refugee crisis, Salam explained that the government is building relations with Syria based on mutual respect for sovereignty, shared interests, and non-interference in internal affairs. He said the government is working to review bilateral agreements and entrench the principle of reciprocity.

He noted that transferring Syrian convicts from Lebanese prisons to serve the remainder of their sentences in their home country is carried out under a judicial agreement similar to those with other countries, "and is not a waiver of sovereignty or a release of the convicts."

Salam indicated that the government's organized plan to facilitate dignified and safe returns, in cooperation with the Syrian government and international partners, and in coordination regarding data, has led to the return of nearly 700,000 Syrians to their country.

(End) F.Z. / R.J.