Berri Discusses Political and Security Developments with Visitors

Speaker of the Parliament Nabih Berri received former Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Elie Ferzli at the Second Presidency headquarters in Ain Al-Tineh, where they discussed the latest political developments and national affairs.

Following the meeting, Ferzli stated: "From the first day the Israeli aggression began, Israel’s objective in Lebanon was always confined to the area it identified as a strategic security target under the pretext of protecting the population in northern Israel beyond the Litani River. Since day one, the policy pursued and the pressure exerted openly and covertly has aimed primarily at transferring the conflict from the border to inside Lebanon. This is the fundamental strategic goal of the Israeli aggression in Lebanon, as it is in Syria and in any place in the region surrounding Israel, to achieve a clear strategic objective: fragmenting, dividing, and dismembering the region. This has been declared multiple times by the enemy’s prime minister."

He added: "Today, we are at the heart of this challenge, and what is clearly required is the steadfastness of the Lebanese people, defending their unity and the unity of their institutions, and rejecting sedition in all its forms. This is what President Berri has emphasized since the first day he spoke about it and worked to avoid it. At the same time, efforts must be directed toward the primary goal: Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon to internationally recognized borders, the implementation of the armistice agreement, and moving toward the disarmament of weapons, which is also a major necessity to impose the state’s authority over the entire Lebanese national territory. Thus, the concept of an independent and sovereign country is realized, with national sovereignty within and at the borders."

Ferzli continued: "Therefore, what is important today is how to maintain national cohesion, the cohesion of all components of Lebanese society and state institutions to preserve them. The Lebanese army, in its leadership and pioneering role, must protect national consensus—I repeat, national consensus—without turning it into a tool for destabilizing the national reality. I am fully confident that the entire army leadership and other leaderships in Lebanon do not want us to reach such a point. God willing, we should be optimistic about the near future."

Speaker Berri also met with MP Jihad Al-Samad, head of the Parliamentary Defense, Interior, and Municipalities Committee, where they reviewed developments in general conditions, political and field updates, and legislative matters.

After the meeting, Al-Samad said: "We were honored to meet with the President and briefly discuss the Framework Agreement. This agreement, in short, was born dead because it legalizes the occupation and because its Lebanese sponsors have no credibility."

He added: "History has taught us that any occupation’s fate is to disappear, and the only fixed truth is that the land belongs to its people because the owner of the land holds the right."

He continued: "The sedition we fear is the army being forced into confrontation with the people. Our hope is placed on the military institution and the wisdom of its commander, who sincerely and credibly upholds the military’s motto: 'Honor, Sacrifice, and Loyalty.' These are the matters we discussed with the President, in addition to other local and legislative issues."