Tammam Salam: Lebanese Political Conflict Paves Way for Statelets

London- Prime Minister Tammam Salam warned that the ongoing political conflict weakens the state and paves way for the establishment of statelets, deeming the election of a president as key to the protection of Lebanon’s current political system. He held talks on the margins of the London Donors Conference on Syria.

In an interview published in Ashraq Al-Awsat newspaper, Salam cast doubt on some local factions’ willingness to preserve Lebanon’s democratic system, saying that they would have united had they really wanted to preserve it.

He also assured that there is a difficult situation the country is experiencing amid an internal political crisis, which affects Lebanon negatively.

Salam admitted to failing to address Hezbollah’s involvement in the Syrian war, stressing that he will keep seeking a solution to this issue.

“Hezbollah’s involvement in Syria does not go in line with the government’s dissociation policy that had been approved by all political forces,” he said.

The premier affirmed that the Lebanese Army is capable of warding off threats despite challenges, hailing any ‘unconditional’ assistance provided to the military and security forces.

The Lebanese Prime Minister defended the banking sector by saying: “We count on it, the whole world counts on it.”

He added that he will defend it despite the fact that not having a president yet is affecting this sector.

Tammam Salam confirmed that his country’s relationship with Saudi Arabia is deep and historic. He precluded visiting Iran and welcomed any unconditional economic and military aid.