Former Presidents Amin Gemayel and Michel Sleiman, and former Prime Ministers Najib Mikati, Fouad Siniora, and Tammam Salam held a meeting via Zoom on Saturday, following which they issued a statement condemning "the continued aggressive practices and actions of the Israeli occupation forces against Lebanon, and the continued killing and destruction."
"Israel is blatantly violating all agreements and understandings reached on November 27, 2024, which has exposed and continues to expose Lebanon's security, safety, and stability to severe dangers," they underlnined, urging the relevant international powers and guarantors to compel Israel to respect and adhere to these understandings and the commitments they entail to preserve international credibility and security and stability in the region as a whole.
Touching on the Lebanese government's recent decisions, they hailed its "principled, national, and progressive position" on the restriction of arms to the Lebanese state and its legitimate forces alone, and commended its "efforts to restore the Lebanese state's full control over all its territories and facilities."
In wake of the recent visit by Iranian official Ali Larijani, the conferees touched on the stances of President of the Republic General Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on preserving Lebanon's sovereignty, independence and free decision-making, away from pressure and dictates from any party.
Meanwhile, they expressed their concern over the seriousness of the statements made by Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem, in which he affirmed rejection of the Lebanese government's position, decision, and plans to restrict weapons to its legitimate military and security forces, and rejection of relinquishing weapons to the state. They considered that "Sheikh Naim Qassem's position and statements are likely to further complicate matters and create obstacles to the state's restoration of its full authority and Lebanon's return to stability," while stressing the "need for wisdom in action and firmness in positions to achieve the monopoly of arms in the hands of the legitimate Lebanese forces, and to restore the Lebanese state's full authority over its lands and facilities and its free decision."
They continued to emphasize the need for maintaining tranquility and calm within Lebanon, away from tense stances and the risks they entail, in order to facilitate the process of Hezbollah's integration under the authority of the Lebanese state. They also affirmed the need for more Arab and international support for the Lebanese government in implementing its programs and in restoring its complete authority and the exclusivity of weapons in the hands of its legitimate military and security forces.
On the regional level, they denounced "Israel's killing, genocide, and starvation of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank," expressing concern over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's public statements about realizing his dream of a "Greater Israel".
"Israel is blatantly violating all agreements and understandings reached on November 27, 2024, which has exposed and continues to expose Lebanon's security, safety, and stability to severe dangers," they underlnined, urging the relevant international powers and guarantors to compel Israel to respect and adhere to these understandings and the commitments they entail to preserve international credibility and security and stability in the region as a whole.
Touching on the Lebanese government's recent decisions, they hailed its "principled, national, and progressive position" on the restriction of arms to the Lebanese state and its legitimate forces alone, and commended its "efforts to restore the Lebanese state's full control over all its territories and facilities."
In wake of the recent visit by Iranian official Ali Larijani, the conferees touched on the stances of President of the Republic General Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on preserving Lebanon's sovereignty, independence and free decision-making, away from pressure and dictates from any party.
Meanwhile, they expressed their concern over the seriousness of the statements made by Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem, in which he affirmed rejection of the Lebanese government's position, decision, and plans to restrict weapons to its legitimate military and security forces, and rejection of relinquishing weapons to the state. They considered that "Sheikh Naim Qassem's position and statements are likely to further complicate matters and create obstacles to the state's restoration of its full authority and Lebanon's return to stability," while stressing the "need for wisdom in action and firmness in positions to achieve the monopoly of arms in the hands of the legitimate Lebanese forces, and to restore the Lebanese state's full authority over its lands and facilities and its free decision."
They continued to emphasize the need for maintaining tranquility and calm within Lebanon, away from tense stances and the risks they entail, in order to facilitate the process of Hezbollah's integration under the authority of the Lebanese state. They also affirmed the need for more Arab and international support for the Lebanese government in implementing its programs and in restoring its complete authority and the exclusivity of weapons in the hands of its legitimate military and security forces.
On the regional level, they denounced "Israel's killing, genocide, and starvation of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank," expressing concern over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's public statements about realizing his dream of a "Greater Israel".
