Paris, July 16 (SANA) Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raji said on Thursday that Lebanon had chosen to rebuild a fully sovereign state with exclusive authority over foreign policy, national security and the legitimate use of force, calling for the country’s armed forces to extend state control across all Lebanese territory.
Speaking at a conference at the French Senate, Raji said Lebanon was committed to building “a free, pluralistic and democratic state based on strong institutions,” stressing that sovereignty is indivisible and national decision-making cannot be delegated, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA).
Raji said recent government decisions, including ending the military presence of the Hezbollah militia, reflected a national conviction that the state could not restore its authority while armed groups continued to operate outside its constitutional framework.
He said Lebanon welcomed cooperation with international partners but rejected outside interference, emphasizing that decisions on war, peace, national security and foreign policy must be made exclusively by the Lebanese state.
Raji added that Lebanon welcomed partners that strengthened state institutions while rejecting any attempt to replace them, saying the country had chosen the path of sovereignty and institutions rather than serving as an arena for regional conflicts.
He described France as a key partner capable of contributing to regional stability and highlighted its role in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
Raji said the Lebanese government’s objective was to extend the authority of the Lebanese Armed Forces across the entire country, including southern Lebanon, in line with state decisions and relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions, adding that lasting stability also required a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory.
Lebanon and Israel signed a framework agreement on June 26 following a fifth round of negotiations in Washington.
R.A/ABD
