In an interview on MTV’s Sar el-Waet program, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea highlighted the Lebanese authorities’ commitment to restricting the right to bear arms to legal forces only. He emphasized that the disarmament of Hezbollah, both south and north of the Litani River, is inevitable.
Geagea revealed that he was initially surprised when he heard President Joseph Aoun call for dialogue regarding Hezbollah’s weapons. “But I later understood that he proposed this dialogue to establish a plan for Hezbollah’s disarmament, not to reopen debate on the weapons file itself,” he explained.
“This is a step forward that we fully support,” he continued, adding, “President Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and I all want the same thing: that all weapons be handed over to the army, both south and north of the Litani, in accordance with the ceasefire agreement and UN Security Council Resolutions 1701 and 1559.”
According to Geagea, Hezbollah’s disarmament “is first and foremost a Lebanese demand, even before being an American or Israeli one.” He further stated, “Former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri was assassinated because he wanted to limit weapons to the state’s legal forces.”
He stressed that Lebanon must notify the United States of a clear timeline to settle the weapons issue. “In return, Washington must respond positively to Lebanon’s demands and work to secure an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon and an end to Israeli airstrikes,” Geagea said, firmly rejecting any idea of integrating Hezbollah cadres into the Lebanese Army.
The Lebanese Forces leader downplayed fears of a civil war, often cited by those who consider Hezbollah's disarmament untimely. “I haven't heard Hezbollah threaten such a scenario, and no one in Lebanon wants a war—nor does anyone have the capacity to start one. A civil war between whom, exactly?” he asked.
In this context, he criticized the approach taken by Culture Minister Ghassan Salamé on the weapons issue, calling it inappropriate.
Municipal Elections and Parity
On the upcoming municipal elections scheduled for May, Geagea said there is no veto against the Future Movement. He paid tribute to this Movement, which he praised as one of the few forces to have genuinely worked for the country's well-being over the past thirty years.
However, he acknowledged that talks with the Future Movement regarding the Beirut elections had come to a halt. “We understood that its leader, Saad Hariri, preferred not to get too involved,” Geagea explained.
He voiced support for forming a coalition list that would ensure parity within Beirut’s municipal council. To that end, he revealed that contacts are ongoing with the Free Patriotic Movement, the Kataeb Party, and other Christian parties. MP Fouad Makhzoumi, he said, is also working with other groups toward the same goal.
“If parity is not respected, we will move toward a new municipal law,” Geagea warned.
When asked about a possible visit to Syria, the Lebanese Forces leader said he is considering it, but “it’s not on the table for now, as the new Syrian administration is still being formed.”
Comments