Naharnet

Mikati says issue of disarming Hezbollah requires 'national consensus'

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Thursday described the ceasefire agreement reached with Israel as “a sort of an executive mechanism for the implementation of Resolution 1701.”

“Our priority is to reach long-term stability and the election of a president,” Mikati added.

Noting that the issue of removing Hezbollah’s weapons “requires national consensus,” the premier said: “We are seeking that the state become the only authority and that the army be in charge of real authority on the ground.”

He also called for “protecting” the army.

The ceasefire agreement reached between Lebanon and Israel on November 27 mentions that Resolution 1701 calls for “full implementation of its predecessor UNSC resolutions, including ‘disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon.’”

The agreement also says that “starting with the Southern Litani Area,” the Lebanese Armed Forces will “dismantle all existing unauthorized facilities involved in the production of arms and related materiel.”

It adds that also “starting with the Southern Litani Area,” the Lebanese Armed Forces will “dismantle all infrastructure and military positions, and confiscate all unauthorized arms.”

Source: Naharnet


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