Geagea Slams Parties Paralyzing State, Destabilizing Arab Countries

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea lashed out at parties that consider Lebanon part of a broader empire thus prolonging the presidential vacuum because it serves its strategic goals.

“The sides are not only paralyzing the Lebanese Republic, but also destabilizing the Arab and regional security by creating armed groups,” Geagea said.

MPs failed on several occasions to elect a new head of state over lack of quorum. President Michel Suleiman's term ended in May without the election of a successor.

Hizbullah and Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun's Change and Reform bloc have been boycotting electoral sessions due to a disagreement with the March 14 camp over a compromise presidential candidate.

Geagea warned of attempts to undermine the stability, security and sovereignty of certain Arab countries.

The Christian leader's statement apparently targets Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, who has been locked in a war of words with Saudi Arabia.

Tensions between Riyadh and Hizbullah increased in the wake of Saudi Arabia's Arab-backed military operation against Yemen's Shiite Huthi rebels. The air campaign, launched in late March, is aimed at defeating the Iran-backed rebels and restoring power to President Abderabbo Mansour Hadi.

The LF chief didn't name the sides he is targeting with his statement, however, he stressed his full support to the establishment of a joint military force that would be capable of defending the “righteous Arab causes and combating terrorism.”

The agreement at an Arab summit in March to establish a joint military force has raised serious doubts about prospects of such a force becoming a reality on the ground.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced the accord at the end of the summit he hosted in the resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, setting a four-month timeframe for the 22-member Arab League to decide on the composition and rules of engagement of the joint force.