Beirut: Lebanese Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi has hailed Qatar’s support for his country at various levels.
In an interview in Beirut, he said the Lebanese economy will not grow without the support of GCC countries, pointing to the existence of hundreds of thousands of Lebanese families and youth working in the Gulf and receiving good treatment.
He said there is no strategic threat to the security situation in Lebanon, highlighting at the same time the crisis at the political level in the light of the presidential vacancy for over a year.
Rifi stressed that Lebanon adhere to the Arab identity and rejected any intervention by regional countries in his country’s decisions.
On Operation Decisive Storm launched by Arab states and led by Saudi Arabia against the Houthis, he said the operation was an important step to stop the rebels’ atrocities against the Yemeni people.
On the risk of armed groups from Syria on the border along the towns of Arsal and Ras Baalbek, he said he sees no threat to Lebanon because the army is doing its duty with professionalism to face insurgents.
He said the Lebanese army is capable of defending the borders and has the right to defend Lebanese territories, stressing that the security situation in Lebanon is acceptable compared to neighbouring regions from Syria to Iraq and Yemen.
He said he is against the defence of any illegal Lebanese armed forces on its borders, saying the army is able to protect national security.
He called on all parties in the country to return to the authority of the state, stressing the importance of the extension of security forces’ control over Lebanese territories.
He declined Lebanon’s dependence on any regional alliances and projects.QNA
