Ibrahim Says Western's Insistence on Stability 'Worthless' without Lebanese Awareness
General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim warned on Saturday of the “delicate security situation in the country,” considering that all international efforts to preserve stability “are worthless if the Lebanese don't meet them with awareness.”
"The security situation in the country is very delicate, and the presence of large numbers of Palestinian and Syrian refugees has changed all considerations and equations,” Ibrahim said in an interview with the Qatari daily Al-Raya.
"This is met with local and international efforts on all levels to preserve stability in the country,” he added.
"But all of this is worthless if the Lebanese do not want peace. We are relying on the Lebanese's awareness and on them taking into consideratio lessons learned in the previous war.”
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees announced in its last weekly report on Friday that the number of Syrian refugees in Lebanon has reached 987,256.
President Michel Suleiman warned on Tuesday during the Arab Summit in Kuwait that as a result of the refugees' presence, the long-term negative consequences on Lebanon's economy require many years of care and follow-up. He also asked Arab countries to share the refugees' burden with Lebanon.
Asked about the procedures adopted to fight terrorism in the country, Ibrahim said this requires enabling Lebanon's armed forces and increasing coordination between them.
"It also requires investing in intelligence and security efforts,” he noted.
"All of this goes along with a daily reconsideration of these procedures as we are facing an invisible enemy. Observing and confronting this enemy necessitate great efforts that should be equal to its planning and intelligence capabilities.”
Ibrahim considered that the formation of the new cabinet encourages optimism, and helps the executed efforts by providing a political cover for security units to do their jobs.
The General Security also chief praised Qatar's cooperation with Lebanese authorities, and its help in releasing the Aazaz abductees, and the Maalula nuns.
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