Beirut, Feb. 26 (SANA) Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Wednesday that his government is working to recalibrate relations with Syria, signaling a shift toward a relationship based on “mutual trust and respect.”
Speaking at an iftar event in Beirut, Salam said the past year had seen notable efforts to redefine ties between the two neighboring countries based on trust, respect and their “historic interconnection,” which he said should serve as a source of strength rather than a cause for interference in each other’s internal affairs.
He said restoring Lebanon’s ties with Arab states has been a central priority for his government, describing Arab engagement as key to the country’s stability and economic recovery. Lebanon aims to secure political backing and investment from Arab partners while ensuring it does not become “an arena for regional conflicts,” he added.
On security matters, Salam said the Lebanese Army had completed the first phase of a plan to consolidate control over weapons south of the Litani River. He described it as the first time since 1969 that the army had regained full operational authority there, adding that a second phase extending north toward the Awali River is expected within four months.
Economically, Salam said Lebanon is approaching what he called a return to financial “regularity” after years of crisis. He confirmed that a draft law addressing the country’s financial gap has been sent to parliament and that regulatory bodies have been formed in the electricity, telecommunications and aviation sectors.
N.J
