Lebanese Foreign Minister Joe Rajji stressed on Saturday the importance of respecting Lebanon’s sovereignty, asserting his rejection of any foreign interference in the country’s internal affairs.
“Lebanon has no connection to the preservation of the current regime in Iran,” the minister said, just days after the end of the 12-day war between Iran and Israel, which erupted over nuclear-related disputes.
“All we ask for is one thing: respect for Lebanon’s sovereignty. We do not want anyone interfering in our internal affairs, nor do we seek to interfere in the affairs of any other country,” he added.
Addressing the issue of the monopoly of weapons by the state, Joe Rajji stated that “the question of weapons must be submitted to the Council of Ministers, and it is up to the Prime Minister to decide when to put it on the agenda.” He also noted that “the government is doing everything in its power to restore order, and it should be given some time, as the crises have accumulated.” “Lebanon has returned to the right path, but there is still much to be done. We are not asking Arab countries for money, but for good relations and the creation of partnerships,” Rajji further emphasized.
The Lebanese state is attempting to regain the monopoly on weapons through a dialogue led from Baabda with Hezbollah, following the cease-fire concluded last November with Israel. Meanwhile, other political forces are calling for a clear disarmament schedule, a demand the party continues to reject.
No ‘foreign interference’
The head of Lebanese diplomacy also said that the state “must seek to reap the benefits, not kill the vineyard’s guardian.” “We are trying, through diplomacy and friendships, to get Israel out of Lebanon. Washington has an interest in the country’s stability through the emergence of an effective state without foreign interference,” he added.
Regarding the withdrawal of Palestinian weapons, he considered it a “purely technical, security and military issue.” The dismantling of Palestinian weapons in Lebanon, which was scheduled for June, failed mainly due to the refusal of many Palestinian factions, including within the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), which remain deeply divided and opposed to handing over their arms.
On the regional level, Joe Rajji noted that “for the first time, the current regime in Syria has recognized Lebanon as a state, and we are negotiating with international bodies for the return of Syrian refugees and displaced persons.”
