Lebanese Prime Minister reaffirms commitment to restoring national sovereignty, monopolizing arms, and complete withdrawal of the occupation

Beirut, Sept 25 (KUNA) -- Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam affirmed on Friday his country’s commitment to reclaiming national decision-making, monopolizing weapons in the hands of the state, and extending its sovereignty over its entire territory, alongside the complete withdrawal of the Israeli occupation up to the internationally recognized borders. Speaking before the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Salam stated that Lebanon’s future, security, and stability “must not become the price for settlements negotiated in its absence,” stressing the necessity of halting the war, consolidating the ceasefire, and achieving the full withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces to the internationally recognized borders in accordance with Resolution 1701. He added that “no one speaks on behalf of Lebanon, nor negotiates for it, except the Lebanese state through its constitutional institutions,” reiterating his country’s rejection of becoming “a battleground for others’ conflicts or a bargaining chip in their hands.” Salam called for the release of all prisoners, the safe and dignified return of residents to their villages and towns, and the reconstruction of what was destroyed by the war, emphasizing that sovereignty “is indivisible” and requires the withdrawal of the occupation, the extension of state authority by its own forces, and the monopolization of weapons by the state alone. He warned of the “danger of a vacuum” that could result from the withdrawal of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) at the end of this year, calling for the establishment of an alternative international force to ensure the continuation of monitoring, reporting, and liaison tasks, and to integrate with the requirements for implementing the “Triangular Framework” agreement reached with the Israeli occupation under US sponsorship last June. He noted that the “Triangular Framework” is based on the “principles of reciprocity and monitoring,” considering that the success of agreements “is measured by the implementation of commitments and their translation into practical steps within a timeline and a mechanism for verifying the implementation of all provisions.” Salam urged the international community to continue providing the necessary funding to meet the basic needs of those affected and displaced by the Israeli occupation’s war on Lebanon, alongside early recovery, reconstruction, and development requirements, stressing that “Lebanon does not shirk its responsibilities nor ask others to do what it is obliged to do.” He clarified that Lebanon faces three “existential” challenges: restoring its people’s trust after the financial collapse and the Beirut port explosion; reclaiming national decision-making “such that no authority stands above the state’s authority”; and reclaiming all occupied territories and extending state sovereignty over its entire territory by its own forces. In a related development, Salam called for restricting the use of the veto in cases of serious crimes and grave violations of international humanitarian law, thereby making the United Nations “more effective and capable of achieving tangible results.” (End) F.Z. / M.N.F.