The smear campaign against President Michel Sleiman is political clamor, Prime Minister Saad Hariri told reporters on Tuesday during his state visit to Germany. He commended Sleiman for strengthening Lebanon’s security as well as its political and economic stability.
Hariri touched on the ongoing media campaign against the Internal Security Forces, defending their request for technical assistance from foreign countries, saying the state is responsible for people’s security and for discovering Israeli espionage networks.
This comes after reports on a supposed security agreement between the US and the ISF following a US request for information on Lebanon’s communications grid. March 8 coalition figures criticized former PM Fouad Siniora’s cabinet for approving to sign the agreement.
Hariri reiterated that improving Lebanese-Syrian relations is a lengthy process that requires calm discussion. “I will visit Damascus once the specialized committees preparing the necessary files finalize their work,” he said, without elaborating further.
He also touched on Libya’s Arab League summit, saying the cabinet will make a final decision that serves Lebanon’s interests and avoids internal division.
According to Hariri, communicating with Berlin is very important, particularly in light of rumors of Germany downsizing its UNIFIL contingent. German officials understand the need to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701, he added.
He also said German Chancellor Angela Merkel clearly stated that following her deliberations with Israeli officials, she did not expect an Israeli attack on Lebanon.
“The Israeli settlement building in Jerusalem and the West Bank is equivalent to aborting the Middle East peace process and targets the credibility of the international community rather than just Palestinians and Arabs,” said Hariri.
He touched on the “attack against Finance Minister Rayya Hassan and the cabinet’s economic and fiscal plan,” calling on political powers to agree over the annual budget draft.
He urged finding financial resources to carry out plans to improve the country’s electricity, infrastructure, schools and hospitals without increasing the public debt.
-NOW Lebanon