Lebanese PM stresses that no authority should supersede state power

Beirut, September 29 (KUNA) -- Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam affirmed on Tuesday that Lebanon “has settled on the choice that no authority shall supersede that of the state, no weapons shall exist outside its legitimate institutions, and no decisions on war and peace shall be made outside its constitutional institutions.” The Lebanese Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement that these remarks were made during a dinner hosted by Lebanon’s ambassador to the United States, Nada Mawlawi, in Washington. Salam added that his government is striving to rebuild the state and restore Lebanese trust in it through the paths of sovereignty and reform, pointing to progress in amending the bank secrecy law, reforming the banking sector’s regulatory framework, working on a financial compliance law, and recovering deposits. He stressed that the cornerstone for restoring sovereignty is the state’s exclusive monopoly on weapons, emphasizing that this applies to Hezbollah and all armed entities other than state institutions. Salam clarified that Lebanon has chosen negotiation and diplomacy, which led to the trilateral framework signed in Washington, expressing confidence that the U.S. leadership will translate the principles of reciprocity and phased implementation into practical steps, including a clear timeline for Israeli withdrawal, implementation of the state’s exclusive monopoly on weapons, a reliable mechanism for verifying commitments, support for Lebanon’s reconstruction, and enabling displaced persons to return. (End) A.Y.B./A.M.S.