Miqati Chairs Security Meeting on Tripoli: Residents Must Not Be Pawns to Create Instability in City
Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati hailed on Wednesday the army and security forces for their role in preserving stability and security in the northern city of Tripoli.
He said: “The residents of the city should refuse being used as pawns to maintain instability in Tripoli.”
He made his remarks after a security meeting on the situation in the city.
“The relative positive outcomes in Tripoli are a product of the security measures and the cooperation demonstrated by the political, popular, and religious leaderships,” remarked Miqati.
Any violation will be firmly dealt and the security forces will not be lenient in dealing with any perpetrator, he declared.
“The security plan being imposed by the army and security forces is solely aimed at protecting Tripoli and all of its residents,” said the caretaker premier.
On that note, he stated: “No one should allow himself to be used as pawn to spread the unrest in the region to Tripoli, which should remain fortified against the wars of others.”
“The residents of the city are entitled to have a state that can protect them and offer them a dignified life, which includes the completion of development projects,” Miqati continued.
The security meeting included caretaker Finance Minister Mohammed al-Safadi, caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel, caretaker Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn, caretaker Economy Minister Nicolas Nahhas, caretaker Youth and Sports Minister Faisal Karami, caretaker State Minister Ahmed Karami, MPs Samir al-Jisr, Mohammed Kabbara, Robert Fadel, Badr Wannous, Samer Saadeh, General Prosecutor Judge Hatem Madi, Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji, acting Internal Security Forces chief Roger Salem, General Security chief Abbas Ibrahim, Secretary General of the Higher Defense Council Mohammed Kheir, and other security officials.
On April 25, key figures of Tripoli, including Miqati, agreed to take a series of measures to improve political, economic and social conditions.
They formed a follow-up committee to execute decisions taken at the meeting.
The decisions remained confidential.
Tripoli has witnessed frequent clashes between the rival Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen neighborhoods in recent years, especially in light of the eruption of the Syrian uprising against President Bashar Assad's regime erupted in March 2011.
The majority of Bab al-Tabbaneh residents are Sunni and back the revolution, while Jabal Mohsen's residents are mainly Alawites from Assad's sect.
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