Internal Security Forces (ISF) Director General Ashraf Rifi said in an interview published in As-Sharq newspaper on Monday that he wants to modernize the ISF and develop it into a well-equipped institution with highly trained members. Protecting Lebanon from organized crime, terrorist acts and spying is a priority, he added.

The ISF has implemented all of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL)’s requests, he said, adding, “I think this is why we are being targeted,” in reference to the March 8 alliance’s criticism of the 2007 US-ISF agreement.

He also said some parties do not want the ISF to evolve, and as such, intentionally launched the smear campaign against him.

He touched on the accusations against the ISF following the US request for information on Lebanon’s communications grid, asking how one can guarantee that employees at cellular phone network companies are not leaking confidential data.

Rifi cited the INTERPOL agreement that had been signed in 1949 and ratified by the parliament, saying that according to the terms of the agreement,  Lebanon can have direct communications with all security services in friendly states, without passing through a third party, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

-NOW Lebanon

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