Salam meets leaders on UN sidelines, says 'no state with two armies'

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has met on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York with U.N. chief António Guterres, King Abdullah II of Jordan, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Iraqi PM Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi, Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, and U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen.

Salam’s meeting with Erdogan addressed the latest developments in Lebanon and the region, as well as efforts to de-escalate tensions and enhance regional security and stability.

The two leaders also followed up on agreements reached during Salam’s visit to Istanbul last July regarding the strengthening of Lebanese-Turkish relations and the expansion of bilateral cooperation -- particularly in the fields of trade, investment, energy, and infrastructure -- as well as projects for electrical and railway interconnection between Turkey, Syria, and Lebanon.

Discussions continued regarding the issue of prefabricated housing and the support Turkey could provide for the return and recovery process in the South. This support aims to facilitate the residents' return and bolster their resilience in their towns and villages, alongside backing reconstruction efforts and the rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure.

Salam thanked Turkey for standing by Lebanon and supporting its institutions, emphasizing the importance of continued coordination and cooperation between the two countries in the coming period.

Salam’s meeting with Iraq’s premier meanwhile addressed bilateral relations and the latest regional developments, as well as follow-up on the outcomes of Salam’s visit to Baghdad last July -- specifically regarding joint projects in energy, transport, and regional connectivity.

“In light of the shared challenges facing Lebanon and Iraq, both leaders affirmed their commitment to strengthening state authority and institutions, and to proceeding with the process of monopolizing arms solely under state control --viewing this as a fundamental pillar for safeguarding sovereignty and cementing stability,” the National News Agency said.

Salam also delivered a speech at the Lebanese Consulate General in New York during a meeting with the expatriate community.

"Regarding the issue of arms, we have taken important and decisive decisions, and we are pressing ahead with their implementation regardless of the difficulties. Our goal is clear: for the State alone to hold authority over its entire territory; for the decision on war and peace to rest solely with the State; and for the army and legitimate forces alone to be responsible for the security of the Lebanese people,” Salam said.

“There can be no state with two armies, nor a state with two decision-making authorities. This is not merely a slogan; it is a fundamental prerequisite for the existence of the State and for restoring confidence in it -- the confidence of the Lebanese people both at home and abroad," the PM added.

"In parallel, we are working to achieve an Israeli withdrawal, secure the return of our people to the South, and launch the recovery and reconstruction process. There is no economy without stability, and no investment without a state," Salam went on to say.