Former Deputy Prime Minister Ghassan Hasbani affirmed that "there are those who undermine the Constitution, the Taif Agreement, and sovereignty, and marginalize the role of the legitimate Lebanese army as the exclusive defender of the land, the people, and institutions, that is, the state. This is the project around which we established a Christian-Islamic partnership to achieve independence from any external authority, a sovereign and final state committed to national consensus and international resolutions concerning its people, land, and institutions, exercising its authority over all its territory."
A delegation from the Lebanese Forces visited Dar Al-Fatwa, including Hasbani, MPs George Okais and Nazih Metni, in addition to Beirut Coordinator Eli Sharabshi and Head of the Mazraa Center Michel Baida. After the meeting, Hasbani stated: "We were honored to meet with His Eminence, the Grand Mufti of the Republic, Sheikh Abdul-Latif Deryan, as envoys from the President of the Lebanese Forces Party, Dr. Samir Geagea, to congratulate him on the holidays following his return from abroad. We discussed the general situation, particularly the ongoing security deterioration that accompanies the economic and financial decline."
He added: "As Lebanese from all sects and communities, we united in 1943 around the state of Lebanon and the National Charter, and we reaffirmed Lebanon's permanence and the unity of its people in 1989 through the National Accord Document in Taif. We also came together in 2005 around Lebanon first and the sovereignty of its territory with the Cedar Revolution."
"We confirm today from Dar Al-Fatwa, this comprehensive national edifice, that we remain steadfast in our insistence on:
- Lebanon first,
- the implementation of the National Accord Document in the Taif Agreement and the Constitution,
- and the application of international resolutions that preserve the unity and security and well-being of the Lebanese, and contribute to the state's sovereignty over all its territory."
Hasbani noted that "there are those who undermine the Constitution, the Taif Agreement, and sovereignty, and marginalize the role of the legitimate Lebanese army as the exclusive defender of the land, the people, and institutions, that is, the state—this project we established a Christian-Islamic partnership around to achieve independence from any external authority, a sovereign and final state committed to national consensus and international resolutions concerning its people, land, and institutions, exercising its authority over all its territory."
He referred to the third paragraph of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which stipulates the authority of the Lebanese government over all Lebanese territory according to Resolution 1559, Resolution 1680, and the relevant provisions of the Taif Agreement. He stated that implementing Resolution 1701 is a significant step under international sponsorship and attention that existed in 2006 and is renewed today towards applying the National Accord Document and the Constitution and building a stable, free, sovereign, and independent state.
"May God protect Lebanon from all dangers, distance it from strife and wars, and sustain it as a final homeland for all its people."
In response to a question, Hasbani confirmed the priority of the presidential file and welcomed the efforts of the quintet committee, emphasizing that this requirement is a Lebanese responsibility. He also recalled the Lebanese Forces' approval of the presidential initiative by the Moderation Bloc, asserting that it is not permissible to accept customs that deviate from the Constitution.
