Miqati Hails ISF, Says Political Stability Achieved through Dialogue

Prime Minister Najib Miqati hailed on Thursday the Internal Security Forces on their efforts to preserve the national security.

“The security forces and army played a major role in maintaining stability amid the storms in the region,” Miqati said at a meeting at the Grand Serail with heads of security agencies.

He stressed on the importance of cooperation between all the security institutions during the launching of the “code of conduct for the Internal Security Forces.”

“Political stability paves way for permanent stability through dialogue, which preserves civil peace,” Miqati stated.

During the event, Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said that the code of conduct determines the duties and rights of the ISF members in accordance with the international treaties.

“Developments in the region and the world might have negative repercussions on the local situation… but we decided not to surrender,” he stressed.

Charbel urged the citizens to abide by the law in order to “achieve equality” and to reach a safer and more stable community.

For his part, ISF chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi said that the security forces are determined to abide by the terms of the code of conduct and implement it.

He hoped that it would strengthen cooperation between the security forces and the citizens in a way that respects all kinds of freedom, preserves human rights and aims at spreading democracy.

General Prosecutor Saeed Mirza, foreign diplomats, ISF officials, and MPs: Ghassan Mokhaiber, Michel Moussa, and Gilbert Zwein were also present at the launching ceremony.

The ISF code of conduct was formulated by the ISF, the Regional Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Beirut, and a team from the British Embassy.

The code of conduct determines the professional and ethical standards of the ISF members.