Salam: Media Machines Spread Poison to Fabricate Disputes

The Media Office of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam issued the following statement:

"Since Prime Minister Nawaf Salam returned from Washington to Beirut, certain media and political machines have been active in spreading rumors and sowing discord among the Lebanese by fabricating positions and attributing statements to President Salam that he never made, in an overt attempt to create disputes between him and other Lebanese parties, particularly the military institution, Banque du Liban, and Intria Investment Company.

In light of what is being circulated, the Media Office of President Salam wishes to clarify the following:

First: Regarding the Lebanese Army

All claims attributed to President Salam criticizing the leadership of the Lebanese Army during his meetings in Washington are false. The position emphasized by President Salam in all his meetings was the necessity of supporting and strengthening the army's capabilities to perform its duties, and the need for a clear mechanism to verify the implementation of the framework agreement, ensuring all parties' commitment to their pledges.

President Salam affirmed that it is impossible to judge the performance of the Lebanese Army in implementing the agreement before establishing a verification mechanism.

Therefore, attempting to portray President Salam as inciting against the military institution or seeking to exert external pressure on it contradicts his consistent and supportive positions towards the army and its role in extending state authority over all its territories with its own forces, as stipulated by the Taif Agreement, the government's ministerial statement, and its decisions.

Second: Regarding Article 95 of the Constitution

Circulated claims about positions attributed to President Salam regarding changing the sect of the Army Commander or the Governor of Banque du Liban are fictional and baseless.

President Salam did not say in Washington what he does not say in Beirut. His declared and consistent position is adherence to applying the Constitution. President Salam did not mention the Army Commander or the Governor of Banque du Liban in this context in any of his meetings in Washington, contrary to what some entities try to imply.

Third: Regarding Intria Investment Company

Intria Investment Company is a joint-stock company owned by shareholders from both the public and private sectors. Banque du Liban owns approximately 35% of its capital, while the Ministry of Finance owns less than 10%, and the remaining shares belong to private sector investors from Lebanon, Kuwait, and Qatar, in addition to individual shareholders.

The election and formation of the company's board of directors are subject to the provisions of the Lebanese Commercial Code and the company's basic system, carried out through shareholders exercising their legal and voting rights according to their ownership percentages.

Consequently, the formation of the company's board of directors is not a government decision, nor can the government intervene outside the scope of rights exercised by the Ministry of Finance as a shareholder in the company, including voting for its candidates and the candidate it supports for the chairmanship of the board. This matter will be discussed at the appropriate time within the government.

The same principle applies to Banque du Liban, which exercises its rights as a shareholder with a stake of approximately 35%, without this contribution constituting a majority in the company's capital, either alone or when combined with the Ministry of Finance's share.

Therefore, all circulating claims that President Salam supports a specific candidate for the chairmanship of Intria's board, or opposes another, are unfounded."