Minister of Justice Adel Nassar announced on Friday that the investigation into the devastating Beirut Port explosion of August 4, 2020, is approaching its final phase.
Nassar emphasized the importance of reaching the truth and ensuring accountability, declaring that no state can be complete without justice for such a catastrophic event.
Speaking at a press conference from his office, Nassar confirmed that the lead investigative judge is in the last stages of his work. “I am fully available to support him. We are near the anniversary of the disaster, and the Lebanese people, especially the victims’ families, deserve answers,” he stated.
Nassar highlighted the judiciary’s obligation to provide clear conclusions and pursue justice according to the law. He stressed that the Ministry of Justice is committed to supporting the investigation until its conclusion.
In addition to the port case, Nassar addressed recent developments in judicial appointments. He announced that the long-stalled judicial formations have now been signed by himself, the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Defense. The process is expected to be finalized in the coming days. “This marks a turning point for the judiciary, free of political interference, and based on merit,” Nassar said.
He also praised the passage of the Judicial Independence Law, which was the result of cooperation between the Higher Judicial Council, the ministry and the Parliamentary Justice Committee. He described it as a foundational step toward a stronger and more autonomous judicial system.
On the broader topic of national sovereignty, Nassar reiterated his support for restricting all weapons to official state authorities. “Weapons outside the state have become a curse on Lebanon,” he warned, calling for a united effort to resolve the issue and build a truly sovereign state.
Regarding the state's monopoly on weapons, which the Council of Ministers is set to address on Tuesday, Nassar stated that he “supports the position of the President of the Republic.”
“There can be no true state as long as weapons exist outside the legal framework. A state cannot be complete while weapons remain outside the control of official forces, regardless of the external considerations related to this issue and the catastrophic consequences this situation continues to impose on Lebanon.”
“Everyone now knows that these weapons have become a curse,” he insisted, referring to the weapons held by Hezbollah and Palestinian factions.
According to him, it is imperative that all actors “are convinced that partnership lies in the building of a state in the true sense of the term.”
“We must resolve the issue of (illegal) weapons as quickly as possible. It is in no one’s interest to be in a position of confrontation with the Lebanese state. The choice is clear: either we are partners in building a state, or we place ourselves in opposition to the state,” Nassar affirmed.
Comments