Salam Launches Anti Terrorism Talks, Underlines Necessity to Elect President
Prime Minister Tammam Salam stressed on Wednesday that Lebanon is in the heart of the battle against terrorism and must help with the efforts to eradicate it, as he emphasized that the first step to end disorder is through the election of a president.
“Lebanon is in the heart of the battle against terrorism. It is directly involved with the reduction of violent extremism that has made our region and the world a bloody panel,” said Salam in a speech at the Grand Serail during the launching of official talks over the national plan to fight terrorism.
“The importance of the international strategy to fight terrorism, espoused by the United Nations General Assembly in 2006, and that of the work plan launched by the U.N. Chief in December 2015 to combat violent extremism, lies within two approaches: one that is global and relevant to fighting terrorism on all levels, and one that is local within each country,” he explained.
“Violent extremism is a plight surging worldwide; yet fighting it must not remain a general international headline, but must be part of thorough work,” he added.
“Confronting extremism, terrorism and violence in Lebanon requires strengthening the structure of the state through the regularity of the government institutions, and ending the current imbalances in it. The first step in that is as we have always repeated is through the election of president,” stressed the PM.
He emphasized: “Strengthening the structure of the state also requires the restoration of democratic mechanisms that allow accountability, renewal of the political elites and enhancing participation in governance through the conduction of parliamentary elections in accordance with the new law that ensures fair representation.”
“The battle with terrorism in Lebanon requires improving the performance of the public administrations and promoting the rule of law because any defect in the application of justice is the shortest path to extremism and terrorism,” he concluded.
Source: Naharnet
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