Mustaqbal: Security and Political Follow-up Needed to Transforming Tripoli into Weapons-Free City

Mustaqbal bloc MP Samir al-Jisr stated that President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister Najib Miqati were receptive and understanding of Tripoli MPs’ request that the city be removed of its weapons.

He told the daily An Nahar in remarks published on Sunday: “A political and security agreement must be reached to follow up on this matter.”

Jisr and MPs Badr Wannous, Samer Saadeh, and Mohammed Kabbara held talks on Saturday with Suleiman and Miqati over stripping Tripoli of its arms as a precursor to removing all arms out of the state’s authority throughout Lebanon.

Jisr demanded that the example of the Taef Accord be adopted in removing these arms, similar to what happened at the end of the civil war.

“Protecting a minority can only be achieved through a democratic system and the state’s complete authority over its territories,” he stressed.

“We asserted to the President that the demand to transform Tripoli into a weapons-free city is not a slogan, but a personal request that we will pursue until it is fulfilled,” the MP continued.

“We will cooperate with the residents until an official stand is taken over this issue,” Jisr added.

The daily spoke of hesitation on the official scene over removing weapons from Tripoli as a precursor to removing arms outside the state’s authority throughout Lebanon.