Hariri: From Now on, Possession of Arms, Decision of War and Peace Should Only Be under State's Control

Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri criticized on Friday the possession of arms outside the Lebanese state, saying that it's true that those possessing weapons have the power to launch an assault, but those who are just are more powerful than all violence and arms.

He said during a speech at Qoreitem: "From now on, the possession of weapons, decision of war and peace, and defending the country should only be under the state's control."

"There is no need to remind the silent majority of the criminal incidents these arms have committed in Lebanon," he added.

"The Lebanese' decision is only in their hands. The decision of their weapons, is not in their hands, but in the hands of the external forces that provide them with arms, finance and press on them to make the weapons dominate our lives, and control our country, its resources and future," he noted

Hariri stressed: "Justice does not need arms. All it needs is your minds, hearts, and voices. Only fear of the truth needs weapons and only the oppressors will falter without the power of the arms."

Addressing the March 8 camp, he asked: "Why do you fear the truth?" in the assassination of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri.

"Those fearing the people finding out the truth fear the people as much as they do the truth," the prime minister said.

"The Lebanese want to live and work in freedom. They share the dreams of all martyrs to achieve freedom without violence and the use of arms," he added.

"The arms will fail before those who broke the wall of fear in 2005 and destroyed what they have been dreaming of for 30 years," he noted.

Addressing the March 13 rally, he said: "You, the Lebanese, will announce to the whole world on Sunday that your dignity and the dignity of your country and your state, your dreams and ambitions, your revolution and your principles that you have defended and paid for with the blood of the martyrs are not available for any deal or trade-off."

Furthermore, Hariri said: "The days of blackmailing us with the Taif Accord are over as we were the first who demanded its implementation and they should remember that it is based on the state having the exclusivity of possessing arms."

Addressing the Shiites in Lebanon, he stated: "We are not just partners in the same country because we have been and always will be partners in blood. We have sought reconciliation because no one among us is working against the Shiites."

"The Shiites in Lebanon were the first who rose up against the use of weapons. Didn't Imam Shamseddine forbid the Lebanese from resorting to weapons against their fellow citizens?" he asked.

"We commit to Imam Shamseddine's declaration and Imam Sadr's rejection of arms. Don't get carried away with claims and rest assured that no statelet can take the place of the Lebanese state and our democratic system," he continued.

Hariri concluded: "Our future is the hostage of the arms and we will declare this on Sunday and continue on saying it until Lebanon is victorious."