True||President Michel Aoun has said that Hezbollah's arms complement, rather than contradict, the Lebanese Army.||

BEIRUT: President Michel Aoun has said that Hezbollah's arms complement, rather than contradict, the Lebanese Army.

"As long as there is land occupied by Israel, which also has its eyes on Lebanon's natural resources, and as long as the Lebanese Army doesn't have the needed power to fend off its threats ... we feel the need for [Hezbollah’s] weapons to be there to complement the role of the army,” Aoun said in an interview with Egyptian CBC TV late on Saturday.

The president added that the group’s arms "don't contradict the state [project] ... it is an essential part of defending Lebanon."

Several local parties have repeatedly called on Hezbollah to surrender its arms to the Lebanese state, which they say are illegitimate.

Aoun expressed belief that Hezbollah won't resort to using its weapons locally against any other group. Hezbollah knows the limit of [arms] use and we ... will not allow that the matter evolve into [a breach of] Lebanon's security," he said.

The Doha Accord, reached by rival March 8 and March 14 leaders in the Qatari capital in May 2008, ended an 18-month political crisis, led to the election of then-Army chief Michel Sleiman as a consensus president, the formation of a national unity Cabinet and an agreement on a new electoral law. The accord ended street fighting between pro- and anti-government groups, including Hezbollah supporters, in Beirut and other parts of the country.

The 1989 Taif Accord, which ended Lebanon's Civil War, called for the disarmament of all Lebanese militias. In exchange, the parties enjoyed greater representation in the Lebanese government.

Former Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi Sunday questioned President Michel Aoun’s support of Hezbollah’s arms, calling it an infringement on national sovereignty.

“Why remain silent after such a severe stance that might infringe on the state, its sovereignty and even its existence?” Rifi asked in a statement issued by his press office.

“The president is [skeptical of] the ability of the Lebanese Army to protect Lebanon, and granting this ability to a militia that is jeopardy to Lebanon as a state,” Rifi said.

Rifi, a rival of Hezbollah, also asked about the Lebanese government’s stance on Aoun’s remarks.

The former minister had resigned from ex-Prime Minister Tammam Salam's Cabinet over what he claimed were unacceptable practices being carried out by Hezbollah and its allies.

- Political disputes will not disrupt national unity -

Aoun also said that political disputes among political factions would not influence coexistence in Lebanon, calling them a matter of difference, not hostility.

“Even using the word ‘disputes’ is an exaggeration,” Aoun said.

“The Lebanese work together as part of the National Accord, as our lives are bound by fixed agreements," he said.

Aoun was elected on Oct. 31 following wide agreement among Lebanese parties.

"After a period of conflicting viewpoints, balance returned to Lebanese political life after the election of the president,” Aoun said.

“A national unity government was formed and we seek to tend to the interests of the Lebanese people.”

In November, Prime Minister Saad Hariri formed a national unity government that aims to restore the trust of local and regional parties following the paralysis in state institutions and decline in Lebanon’s relations with key regional states.

In 2016, Aoun made a historical alliance with his war-time rival Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea to seek nationwide agreement.

- Middle Eastern Christians in danger –

Aoun called on the international community to put an end to acts of violence against Christians in the Middle East.

“The conscience of this world should awaken and end this issue; we [Christians] are a fundamental civilization in the east,” Aoun said.

“A large part of [Middle Eastern Christians] have migrated,” he added, saying that half of Iraqi Christians and two out of five million Syrian Christians were forced to leave their homes.

He pointed out that “Takfiri terrorism targets Muslims, too, and not just Christians and people of other beliefs.”

The Lebanese president called for enhanced relations with the neighboring countries, as there are no obstacles against regional collaboration, except when countries wage wars.

"Iran and Turkey are neighboring countries that "we must keep special relations with as there are a lot of common interests," he said in an interview with Egypt’s Al Ahram newspaper.

- Preserving unity of Syria -

Turning to the conflict in Syria, Aoun said that political settlement under the auspices of the League of Arab States would end the war and ensure that the country remains united.

"We are keen on preserving the unity of the people and land of Syria ... It is not possible for the Syrian war to end without a political settlement," Aoun said.

"If Arab states agree on a unified stance at the LAS during the Jordan summit next month [March], it would be possible to reach a position to help resolve [the conflict] in Syria," he said, adding that a unified Arab stance could also end the war in Libya and other Arab countries suffering armed conflicts.

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