BEIRUT, July 31 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun on Thursday called for exclusive control of arms by the Lebanese state, urging all political factions to rally behind the national army as the sole guarantor of stability and sovereignty.
"There is no guarantee more secure than the arms of the Lebanese Army -- an army backed by a state built on institutions, justice, and public interest," Aoun said during a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the army's founding.
Aoun revealed that negotiations are underway over a U.S.-backed framework aimed at halting "Israeli aggression" and restoring Lebanon's control over its borders.
"A state worthy of its martyrs cannot leave its sovereignty open to compromise," Aoun said. "All arms must return to the army, and all borders must return to Lebanon."
The president also warned against ongoing internal divisions and reliance on "foreign backers," urging all factions to place national interest above sectarian or partisan calculations.
Turning to domestic affairs, Aoun outlined the government's six reform priorities: reviving judicial independence, securing depositors' rights, disarming militias, restructuring public institutions, conducting timely elections, and reestablishing Lebanon's regional and international ties.
"Our future lies in a unified state, not in weapons outside it," he said, calling on political leaders and citizens to back the army and uphold Lebanon's national project. Enditem
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