Retired General Jean Qahwaji confirmed that the Lebanese Army has fulfilled and continues to fulfill all its duties in accordance with applicable laws and internal instructions within the military institution.
During his attendance as a witness before the investigating judge, Fadi Sawwan, General Qahwaji stated: "I appeared today before President Fadi Sawwan as a witness in the disaster case of the Beirut Port explosion, and I affirmed that the army has fulfilled and is fulfilling all its duties in accordance with the laws. I also confirmed that I am under the law and the judiciary."
He added: "I mentioned that the army leadership received a letter from the General Directorate of Customs at the Beirut Port in late 2015, inquiring whether the army needed the ammonium nitrate material located in the port, in warehouse number 12. This file was referred to the Equipment Directorate, which proceeded to inspect the bags of ammonium nitrate, carried out the necessary laboratory analysis, and informed the leadership that the army did not need the mentioned material due to its very large quantity, its limited applications, and the fact that it deteriorates over time, posing a danger when stored for long periods. Additionally, there were no vacant places for storage, nor the capability to destroy and eliminate it. Consequently, the army leadership responded to the Customs Directorate with a letter dated April 7, 2016, stating that it did not need the ammonium nitrate material, and that it could communicate with 'Lebanese Explosives Company - Majid Al-Shamas' to explore the possibility of utilizing the said material, and if they did not wish to do so, to re-export it to the country of origin at the expense of the importers."
Judge Fadi Sawwan, in the Beirut port explosion case, resumed his investigations in this matter on Thursday.
