Beirut: The Kataeb Party's Political Bureau held its weekly meeting under the leadership of Party President Samy Gemayel to discuss the latest political and security developments. Following the meeting, the Bureau released a statement addressing several key issues.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, the Political Bureau welcomed the appointment of former Ambassador Simon Karam as the head of Lebanon's negotiating team. The Bureau views this as a sign of the State's intent to regain control through legitimate institutions. It emphasized the need for this move to be paired with actions ensuring that all weapons are exclusively controlled by the legitimate armed forces, thereby reasserting State sovereignty.
The Bureau also expressed its opposition to recent comments by Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem, who suggested limiting solutions to the area south of the Litani River. The Bureau argued that this stance contradicts the ceasefire agreement and U.N. Resolution 1701. It further contended that Hezbollah's willingness to limit its weapons and dismantle its military structures only at the border with Israel indicates a broader aim to maintain control within Lebanon and hinder the establishment of a sovereign State.
In marking the first anniversary of the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, the Bureau highlighted the inevitable collapse of tyrannical regimes that oppress their people and occupy neighboring lands. It renewed its demand to uncover the fate of Lebanese detainees in Syrian prisons and called for bringing Habib Shartouni to justice. The Bureau urged Hezbollah's supporters to reconsider their stance in light of leaked videos of the Syrian dictator, hoping these would prompt a reassessment of the credibility of those promoting war and death as necessary.
Additionally, with the completion of the report on voting by non-resident Lebanese by Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, the Bureau called for immediate action. It urged the Speaker of Parliament to convene the General Assembly to address this issue and implement measures ensuring Lebanese expatriates can participate in upcoming elections, thus respecting their political rights and addressing long-standing delays in this matter.