Beirut: In an interview with Al-Ittihad: Foreign Minister, Youssef Raggi, described the government’s decision to restrict all weapons to the state as ‘a historic moment,’ fulfilling a key clause of the Taif Agreement signed 35 years ago. He said this step lays the groundwork for a sovereign state that solely holds the authority over war and peace.

According to National News Agency – Lebanon, Raggi stressed that the move was only possible through consensus between the President and Prime Minister, alongside the support of international and regional partners. He noted that global financial institutions, such as the World Bank and IMF, have conditioned any assistance on two pillars: implementing reforms and consolidating arms under state authority.

On border issues, Raggi affirmed that Lebanon’s frontier with Israel is already delineated by the 1948 Armistice Agreement, requiring only formal confirmation.

As for Syria, the minister said technical work remains, pending cooperation from the new Syrian administration.