Bassil says Hezbollah would disarm 'at will' when army is equipped to defend country
Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil said Thursday that the army must be allowed and equipped to defend Lebanon against any aggression and that Hezbollah would then deliberately hand over its arms.
Bassil accused the political authority in Lebanon of being powerless and taking orders from foreign countries, as Washington is pressing the Lebanese government to disarm Hezbollah.
Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem had complained earlier this week that the U.S. is trying to force the country to make concessions to Israel with no commitments offered in return, accusing it of imposing "diktats" on the Lebanese government.
In August, the government ordered the army to devise a disarmament plan. Since then, the army has briefed the government twice on the plan but the discussions were kept secret.
Bassil said that Hezbollah would deliberately hand over its arms to the army when they know there is a political decision that allows the army to defend and free Lebanon.
"Instead of being determined to make the army the sole armed entity, we should be keen on funding and equipping it," Bassil said, so that the army can defend "all the Lebanese" against any aggression.
"The army is not here to watch but to defend our people, our dignity, and our nation. This is how we restore the confidence of the Lebanese in the army," he said.
Source: Naharnet
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