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  • Last Update
    08-Dec-2021

France Urges Lebanon to Commit to Reforms

 

Asharq Al-Awsat

 

Political tension over Hezbollah’s weapons re-emerged after the joint Saudi-French statement that called for arms to be under the sole authority of the legitimate state institutions.
 
 
While Hezbollah rejected the provision related to its weapons, Paris called on Lebanon to “prove its credibility in its commitment to reforms, especially structural reforms that require serious work tools to confront the deep crisis.”
 
 
On Tuesday, French Ambassador to Lebanon Anne Griot briefed Lebanese President Michel Aoun, at the request of the Elysée, on the outcome of President Emmanuel Macron’s Gulf tour, especially his visit to Saudi Arabia.
 
 
“The Kingdom has expressed its commitment to helping Lebanon and the need to implement the pledges that have been made,” according to a statement by the Lebanese presidency.
 
 
Griot, in turn, noted that her country “has achieved the first step in this regard,” adding that Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states were also ready to make the required moves and emphasizing Lebanon’s need to prove its commitment and credibility.
 
 
During the meeting, the French ambassador spoke about the priorities of reforms, and underlined the importance that the international community and France attach to the holding of parliamentary, municipal and presidential elections next year.
 
 
In a joint statement issued on Saturday, Saudi Arabia and France called on the Lebanese government to carry out comprehensive reforms and to put the arms under the sole authority of state institutions.
 
 
However, the provision on arms was rejected by Hezbollah.
 
 
“We will not accept, no matter how intense the pressures, that there be a trade-off between obtaining the minimum level of decent living and giving up what is a symbol of our dignity and freedom,” former Minister Mohammed Fneish said on Tuesday, referring to the movement’s weapons.
 
 
He continued: “We want to work to achieve two goals, namely, adherence to the resistance, because it is a guarantee of existence, and tackling problems to provide the minimum necessities of life.”
 
 
For his part, the Kataeb Party vice-president, Salim Sayegh, said in comments on Twitter: “No to the weapons, yes to the Army! No to evasion, yes to reform! No to sectarianism, yes to patriotism! This is the trilogy of change that we believe in with [Kataeb President] Sami Gemayel.”
 

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