Geagea: International positions in support of Lebanon require a strong state

BEIRUT — The head of the Lebanese Forces (LF), Samir Geagea, said Thursday that “the agreement announced in Washington guarantees neither the disarmament of Hezbollah, nor an Israeli withdrawal, nor the prospect of building a state.”

While acknowledging the importance of reaching a cease-fire, Geagea stated that “a strong state is needed, because without it, the possibility of returning to war would be high,” advocating for “a lasting cessation of hostilities.” He also stressed that “the Arab and Western positions in favor of Lebanon’s sovereignty and independence require a sovereign state.”

The LF leader was referring to the joint statement issued at the end of the latest round of negotiations Thursday, announcing a cease-fire that Hezbollah was invited to implement as a priority, with the establishment of “pilot zones” where only the Lebanese army would be responsible for security. The pro-Iranian militia party has already declared its rejection of this text.

For Geagea, “a sovereign state is one that implements by itself the agreements it signs, without taking into account the opinion of [Parliament Speaker] Nabih Berri, who consults Iran, which in turn consults China, which in turn consults Pakistan…”

“In short, if the state does not have all the cards to apply its decisions, then it does not have the characteristics of a true state,” he added.

Geagea considered that if the agreement reached in Washington were implemented, it would mean Hezbollah would lose its role, “which Iran cannot accept after having spent tens of billions of dollars on a party it wants to keep as a bargaining chip.”