Hasbani: Lebanon Must Seize the Golden Opportunity Amid Changes, and the “Lebanese Forces” Serve as a Safety Valve
Former Deputy Prime Minister and MP Ghassan Hasbani affirmed that “we are living through a transitional phase not only at the level of Lebanon but across the entire region.” He emphasized that “we are facing a golden opportunity that must be seized and utilized, requiring awareness from all Lebanese.” He pointed out that “the transformations are significant, and Lebanon’s position is crucial; it can play a positive role in regional stability.”
In an interview with “Liban Libre,” Hasbani, speaking as an observer, stated that the invitation of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to Riyadh is a very positive step by Saudi Arabia, reaffirming its commitment to the position of the Prime Minister and ensuring that Salam is neither abandoned nor isolated. He noted that this move aligns with Saudi Arabia’s support for President General Joseph Aoun.
Hasbani stressed that Lebanon should not remain a bargaining ground for negotiations with the international community. The country can no longer serve as a platform for any war, regardless of its justification. He warned that some parties have decided to drag wars into Lebanon and turn it into a battlefield.
He added, “For about 15 years, Lebanon’s economy has been stagnant due to an armed organization claiming to protect Lebanese territory but instead dragging the country into wars and opening battlefronts that neither defended nor supported Lebanon. This group must finally acknowledge that it has caused the collapse of the state, reducing it to a country begging for humanitarian aid from the international community.”
While acknowledging Israel’s violations of the ceasefire agreement, Hasbani also pointed out that “Hezbollah” is breaching the agreement by maintaining its weapons. He argued, “Israel will be kept in check by the international community once the Lebanese state has exclusive control over arms, leaving Israel without an excuse to claim a security threat.”
He continued, “Justifying any weapons outside state control is untenable. Any discussions to the contrary are merely attempts to alleviate pressure on Hezbollah. The reality is that these arms must be handed over, and a clear timeline must be established for their removal. This should have been done within a timeframe not exceeding the government’s tenure since committing to this in the ministerial statement only covers its term.”
Hasbani also noted that “Hezbollah” is awaiting regional developments to determine its fate. He warned that believing the narrative that disarmament is beyond Lebanon’s control is dangerous.
In response to a question, he clarified, “There is no contradiction between the French and American positions but rather a difference in priorities. The French may place greater emphasis on economic and reform-related issues, while the Americans focus more on ensuring that weapons remain exclusively in the hands of the state, alongside necessary reforms.”
Regarding the recent missile launches from Lebanon toward Israel, he remarked that if Hezbollah’s claims are true—that it had no role or knowledge of the recent missile attacks on Israel and is not engaged in resistance activities—then it essentially admits that its role in confronting Israel in the south has ended, leaving no justification for retaining its weapons.
Hasbani also rejected claims that financial support for Lebanon comes with conditions that compromise its sovereignty. He clarified that donor countries are simply demanding assurances that there will be no illegal weapons dragging Lebanon into another devastating war after they have contributed their funds to reconstruction efforts.
He continued, “Funds will not come without reforms and addressing the issue of exclusive state control over weapons. A clear example is the CEDRE conference, which failed because the corrupt political elite sought financial aid without implementing any reforms. The result was financial collapse instead of funding.”
On the government level, Hasbani warned of “dubious intentions” being plotted, affirming that the presence of “Lebanese Forces” ministers serves as a safety valve and a key supporter of the first government of the presidential term. “We are fully committed to ensuring its success,” he added.
He further noted, “The disputes between the two presidencies over the appointment of the Central Bank governor are being managed. We have helped reduce tensions within the government by proposing that our ministers summon the candidate and directly clarify his stance on key issues. The ministers gathered the necessary information, and we followed constitutional procedures. We still believe the government is capable of functioning, regardless of any hidden agendas.”
Responding to a question, he said, “The first challenge for the Minister of Finance is to propose a law securing a $250 million loan from the World Bank to reform the Ministry of Finance and enhance its tax collection and customs reform capabilities. We had previously suggested linking Lebanese customs with the exporting countries to verify shipment records and ensure their type and volume match declared data. If the Minister of Finance implements these reforms, he will be an effective reformer. However, he withdrew the proposed law from Parliament, awaiting further review, with hopes of resubmitting it.”
Concluding on municipal and local elections, he said, “We are operating on the basis that municipal and local elections will take place, and any concerns or difficulties will be addressed.”
Hasbani : Le Liban doit saisir l’opportunité en or face aux changements, et les “Forces Libanaises” sont une soupape de sécurité
L’ancien vice-Premier ministre et député Ghassan Hasbani a affirmé que “nous vivons une phase de transition non seulement au Liban, mais dans toute la région.” Il a insisté sur le fait que “nous avons une opportunité en or qu’il faut saisir et exploiter, ce qui exige une prise de conscience de tous les Libanais.” Il a souligné que “les transformations sont majeures, et la position du Liban est essentielle ; il peut jouer un rôle positif dans la stabilité régionale.”
Dans une interview avec “Liban Libre”, Hasbani, en tant qu’observateur, a déclaré que l’invitation du Premier ministre Nawaf Salam à Riyad est une démarche très positive de la part de l’Arabie saoudite. Cela réaffirme son engagement envers la position du Premier ministre et garantit que Salam n’est ni abandonné ni isolé. Il a souligné que cette initiative va de pair avec le soutien de l’Arabie saoudite au président, le général Joseph Aoun.
Hasbani a insisté sur le fait que le Liban ne doit pas rester un terrain de négociation pour la communauté internationale et ne peut plus servir de plateforme pour aucune guerre. Il a ajouté : “Depuis environ 15 ans, l’économie libanaise est paralysée en raison d’une organisation armée prétendant protéger le territoire libanais, mais qui a en réalité attiré des guerres et ouvert des fronts, causant ainsi l’effondrement de l’État.”
Il a également souligné que si Israël viole l’accord de cessez-le-feu, le Hezbollah le viole aussi en maintenant son armement. “Israël sera contrôlé par la communauté internationale dès que l’État libanais aura l’exclusivité des armes, ne lui laissant plus d’excuse sécuritaire”, a-t-il affirmé.
Concernant le gouvernement, il a averti de “manœuvres suspectes” tout en affirmant que la présence des ministres des “Forces Libanaises” constitue une soupape de sécurité et un soutien essentiel au gouvernement.
En conclusion, il a déclaré : “Nous travaillons sur la base que les élections municipales et locales auront bien lieu, et les préoccupations seront traitées en conséquence.”