Prime Minister Nawaf Salam reiterated on Sunday the need to fully implement the Taif Agreement, stressing that Lebanon’s failure to confine arms to the hands of the state remains a fundamental obstacle to national stability.
“Arms must be confined to the hands of the state, and we have failed to fulfill this clause since the Taif Agreement,” Salam said during a visit to the Rashaya region. He underlined that the path to restoring state authority lies in completing the implementation of the 1989 agreement and addressing the distortions that emerged in its application.
Salam pointed specifically to two unfulfilled pillars of the accord: expanded administrative decentralization and balanced regional development, which he described as essential to achieve lasting stability in Lebanon.
During the visit, Member of Parliament Wael Abu Faour voiced support for Salam, saying, “We are in fateful days and fateful choices, and we are confident that you will lead Lebanon to safety.”
“We support you because we need a state that reassures all its citizens, and we stand by you in these critical days when choices are limited,” Abu Faour concluded.
Prime Minister Salam laid the foundation stone for the Beqaa Islamic Complex in Chtaura, alongside MP Hassan Mrad and Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian. In his speech, Salam described the project as a symbol of national unity and spiritual commitment, highlighting the Beqaa’s role as a model of coexistence despite long-standing neglect. He emphasized that balanced development and citizens’ dignity are essential for lasting stability, and reiterated the government’s commitment to reform through stronger institutions, judicial independence, and restructuring the banking sector.
The tour also included a broad meeting in Ghazzeh at MP Yassin Yassin’s residence, attended by ministers, local officials, and community leaders. Salam discussed recent legislative reforms and affirmed continued work despite the government’s limited mandate. MP Yassin presented key development demands focused on agriculture, infrastructure, and youth support. The visit concluded in Taalabaya, where Salam stressed that true national stability requires both state monopoly over arms and robust social safety nets to preserve citizens’ dignity.
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