Aoun says army must be sole authority in south, stresses civil peace is 'red line'
President Joseph Aoun affirmed Tuesday that his actions are in the interest of "all Lebanese, not just a specific group," and that the path of negotiations is "the only remaining option after all other solutions, including war, have been exhausted."
He added that the Lebanese people suffered greatly when the Lebanese Army was absent from the south, and that "the time has come for its return to fully assume its responsibilities and be solely responsible for security in the south."
The president stressed that everyone must rally around the army and the security forces, otherwise "the losses will affect everyone."
Aoun also reiterated that "anyone attempting to incite sectarian or religious strife will not succeed," and that anyone who does so would be "handing a free gift to Israel."
He also emphasized that "civil peace is a red line," and that "there is sufficient awareness among the people and the majority of officials."
On a separate note, the president condemned the Iranian attacks that targeted the United Arab Emirates on Monday, considering them "a serious violation of its sovereignty, security and stability, and an affront to human values and international law."
He accordingly affirmed "Lebanon's full solidarity with the UAE, its leadership and its people in confronting these challenges," stressing his support for "all measures taken to protect its security and preserve its sovereignty."
Source: Naharnet
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