Qahwaji Lauds Latest Saudi Financial Aid to Enhance Lebanon's Security Situation

Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji expressed gratitude on Thursday for the support that Saudi Arabia offers to Lebanon and in particular the military, considering it to be the main reason behind “thwarting conspiracy schemes and maintaining stability in Lebanon.”

“The generous aid (for the Lebanese army) came at the appropriate time,” Qahwaji said in an interview with the Saudi newspaper Okaz.

He personally thanked Saudi King Abdullah for “helping the army develop its capabilities and safeguard Lebanon amid the current situation in the region.”

Qahwaji described the Saudi grant as “important,” saying: “It will enable (the army) to obtain military equipment and technologies that are not currently available, which will directly facilitate its combat against terrorism.”

“The army is engaged in a tough mission to control security on the country's eastern and northern border with Syria and the southern border with Israel, in addition to areas across Lebanon as terrorist risks are on the rise.”

Asked about the first Saudi-financed arms deal, which was announced last December by former President Michel Suleiman, Qahwaji said that the “$3 billion deal that was set to purchase military equipment and weapons from France is still n its initial stage due to administrative reasons between the kingdom and Paris.”

The Lebanese army has long complained of being sorely under-equipped.

“We are still looking for a country to strike a deal with to buy arms under the additional one billion dollars granted by Saudi Arabia,” Qahwaji told the newspaper.

Al-Mustaqbal movement leader and ex-Prime Minister Saad Hariri declared on Wednesday that Saudi Arabia has provided Lebanon's army with one billion dollars to strengthen security.

Qahwaji stressed the “necessity of swiftly providing the security agencies with the necessary military assistance.”

The army commander also called for a political balance or consensus and an agreement between the political arch-foes on backing the military in its fight against terrorism.

He voiced hope that the Saudi aid would lead to a breakthrough regarding the ongoing presidential vacuum “that is posing tremendous risks on the country.”

Lebanon has been without a president since May 25 when Suleiman's six-year term ended amid a failure by parliament to elect a successor over differences on a compromise candidate.

H.K.

G.K.