Lebanon’s president says state must have control over ‘decisions of war and peace’

Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun says the Lebanese state must have control over “the decisions of war and peace,” and to do this, it must “monopolize or restrict weapons to the state.”

Auon tells London-based Arabic newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat that “It is no longer allowed for anyone other than the state to fulfill its national duty in protecting the land and the people… When there is an aggression against the Lebanese state, the state makes the decision, and it determines how to mobilize forces to defend the country.”

Auon says Beirut is fully committed to implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which would ban Hezbollah’s presence in south Lebanon.

“We are tired of war,” he says. “We hope to end military conflicts and resolve our problems through diplomatic efforts.”

Auon also criticizes Israel for failing to withdraw fully from south Lebanon, maintaining forces in five key strategic positions.

“We were not surprised… because you always expect the worst from them,” he says. But “there was an agreement signed by the two parties under American and French sponsorship that was supposed to be adhered to, and the signature had to be respected.”

However, he says, “As usual, the Israeli side did not abide by the agreement and some of it remained there. Now we are in constant contact with the French and the Americans to pressure the Israelis to withdraw from the five points.”

He further argues those points “have no military value,” as drone and satellite technology make holding on to high-altitude observation points unnecessary.