Over 4.1 million gather at Grand Mosque on 29th night of Ramadan    Myanmar earthquake death toll climbs to 144    Zelenskyy says new US draft minerals deal 'significantly differs,' rules out treating aid as a loan    Sudanese army says it has cleared final RSF positions in Khartoum    Trump renews push to acquire Greenland    Interior minister visits Grand Mosque operations center    Saudi Arabia prepares over 19,000 mosques and open-air prayer grounds for Eid Al-Fitr prayers    Reef Saudi bazaar celebrates rural heritage with traditional crafts and strong public turnout    World's largest barbershop opens at Clock Towers Center in Makkah to serve pilgrims    Saudi non-oil exports jump 10.7% in January    Saudi creatives shine at Jeddah's Fawanees Nights with art, fashion, and storytelling    OMODA&JAECOO Accelerate Global Expansion JAECOO J8 records strong first month orders in Saudi Arabia, J5 prepares for launch    LOT - The Value Shop makes its grand debut in Hafar Al-Batin    100 Thieves claim Marvel Rivals Invitational NA crown as 2025 scene heats up    T1 CEO confirms Gumayusi's return for LCK Spring after lineup shakeup    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Saudi Arabia hold Japan to goalless draw in Saitama to stay in World Cup hunt    Disney's Snow White film tops box office despite bad reviews    NewJeans announces hiatus after setback in court battle    George Foreman, heavyweight champion and cultural icon, dies at 76    Court rules against K-pop group NewJeans in record label dispute    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Aoun against any weapons used inside Lebanon
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 13 - 01 - 2017

In an exclusive interview with Al Arabiya's General Manager Turki Aldakhil, Lebanese President Michel Aoun has said that he visited Saudi Arabia because it is the first country to invite him since he took power as he attempts to clarify specific foreign policy issues.
Aoun reiterated that Lebanon has no intentions of working against Arab interests, particularly those of Saudi Arabia.
"We have grown up with Saudi Arabia's friendship so unsatisfactory results are unacceptable during these tense times. But positions can be clarified," said Aoun during his two-day visit to Saudi Arabia, adding that Lebanon has not done anything that harms Arab interests.
The president said that Lebanon was against weaponized conflict within his country, adding that the recent presence of arms was linked to "certain circumstances."
Aoun said that there is no longer space for resistance within Lebanon, as resistance within the Middle East has been overridden by interference from the US, Iran and Russia.
Hoping for Gulf tourists' return
Aoun voiced hope that Gulf tourists would return to Beirut in the near future, particularly Saudi citizens, who are significant financial contributors to Lebanese tourism.
Saudi and other Gulf citizens were advised to leave Lebanon a year ago and Aoun said this led to speculations in the wake of political issues surfacing after the Syrian war.
Aoun to Al Arabiya: Lebanon did not harm Arabs
"Lebanon has become 100 percent secure except for car accidents. We have a free market now, especially for Saudi Arabia which has existing investments," Aoun told Aldakhil.
The war in Syria
Aoun said he would prevent any attempt being made from Lebanon to launch an attack against any country just as it prevents the entry of terrorists from Syria to Lebanon.
He also said that some Lebanese parties' decision to participate in the Syrian war was not sanctioned by the state, adding that he was against such decisions.
"As a Lebanese president, I don't have the right to be with anyone against anyone because I represent all the Lebanese people. The Lebanese people have different opinions about the matter, and positive neutrality is the right stance," Aoun said, adding that the Syrian crisis can only be resolved politically because international parties can fuel the war from outside Syria.
Regarding Syrian refugees in Lebanon, Aoun said that once there is security in Syria, refugees must return home because there are economic difficulties in terms of aiding them.
Currently there is one Syrian refugee for every two Lebanese citizens, according to Aoun.
On Hezbollah's militancy
Without directly naming Hezbollah during the interview, he said that he supports "the resistance" but not "terrorism" from the militants, adding that he is against any weapons used inside Lebanon.
Hezbollah's armed militancy has divided Lebanon over the years as they do not operate within the context of the state and army.
Aoun: Taif Accord was never fully respected
Aoun who referred to Hezbollah as the "resistance," said the issue of weapons and its role is now part of the Middle East crisis, which involves the United States, Russia, Iran, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. He added that this was far more important than just the Lebanese state's capability to address it.
Aoun stressed the importance of enhancing the army's fighting capabilities and equipping it with modern weapons. He also expressed the need for exchange of security information with friendly countries in order to combat terrorism and empower the official military institution.
Domestic issues as important
With regards to domestic issues, Aoun said there were clauses in the 1989 Taif Agreement, which helped end the civil war in Lebanon, that have not been fully implemented. He said it was of high importance for these clauses to be realized, particularly electoral law, in order to promote co-existence and the proper representation of the different segments of Lebanese society.
He added that there are some electoral laws implemented "1992 onwards resulted in parties loyal to Syria gaining a certain advantage. Syria left and this advantage remained."
The upcoming parliamentary elections in Lebanon will be held "on the basis of the law," Aoun said.
"The proportional electoral law will make me lose some seats but it guarantees representation of all citizens. I expect there will be an initial settlement but it will not provide complete justice in terms of an electoral law," he added.


Clic here to read the story from its source.