Aoun: Arms monopoly to be achieved despite difficulties, obstacles

President Joseph Aoun has said that “arms monopoly will be achieved despite the difficulties and obstacles,” adding that authorities are “awaiting the army’s plan” on weapons monopolization to “discuss it and approve it.”

“The implementation of the U.S. paper also requires approval from Syria and Israel as well as guarantees from the U.S. and France,” Aoun added, in remarks to Al-Arabiya TV.

“Achieving arms monopoly in the hand of the state does not harm Lebanon’s rights and sovereignty,” he emphasized, adding that “Cabinet’s session today will continue the approval of decisions to implement arms monopolization.”

“We will press on with the implementation of the presidential inauguration speech and the Ministerial Statement,” the president went on to say.

His remarks come after Cabinet approved Tuesday a historic decision to disarm Hezbollah and all other armed groups by the year’s end, with the army being tasked with presenting a plan to the government before the end of August.

Hezbollah rejected the decision and said it will deal with it “as if it does not exist,” after the ministers of the Shiite Duo walked out of Cabinet in protest.