Berri says army's weapons monopoly plan 'preserves civil peace'

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said “things are positive,” after Cabinet on Friday welcomed the Lebanese Army’s plan for the disarmament of Hezbollah and all armed groups in the country.

“I believe that the toxic winds have started to subside,” Berri added, in remarks to Asharq al-Awsat newspaper.

“The army’s military plan preserves civil peace,” the Speaker said.

Cabinet on Friday welcomed the army's weapons monopolization plan and decided to keep its details confidential while asking the army to submit monthly reports on its implementation, Information Minister Paul Morcos said after a key session that witnessed a walkout by all five Shiite ministers.

Al-Akhbar newspaper reported Saturday that the “compromise” statement was issued as a result of an agreement between Berri and President Joseph Aoun.

Morcos said that the army “will start implementing the plan, but according to the available resources — there are limited material and human logistical resources” and that the military “has the right of operational discretion.”

He did not specify a new timeline for implementation.

Morcos also said that Israel had not held up its end of the agreement laid out in a U.S.-brokered ceasefire that halted the latest Israel-Hezbollah war in November. Since then, Israeli forces have continued to occupy five strategic hills inside Lebanese territory and to carry out near-daily airstrikes.

“Israel, like Lebanon, has clear obligations” under the agreement, Morcos said. “However, its continued violations constitute evidence of its reneging on these obligations and seriously threaten regional security and stability," he added.