The Kataeb Party renewed its calls to form a government of technocrats and to adopt a policy of neutrality in the wake of the country’s deteriorating economic situation.
In a statement following its weekly politburo meeting, the party said: “We consider that Lebanon today is paying the price of being entangled in regional conflicts... We call for adherence to the policy of neutrality, stressing that Lebanon’s supreme interest is to preserve its historic Arab and international friendships.”
The Kataeb commented on the recent Arab Economic and Social Development Summit in Beirut, noting that Arab messages during the meeting were “discouraging.”
The party, on the other hand, highly valued the initiative of Maronite Patriarch Beshara Al-Rai to bring all Maronite leaders together around a dialogue table last week.
Calling on the different parties to rescue the country, the Kataeb emphasized that Lebanon could only have full sovereignty if its army became the only armed force on Lebanese territory.
The statement added that Moody’s downgrading the rating of Lebanon was a “very serious indicator and a new warning to the need to speed up the formation of a government of neutral technocrats, capable of implementing urgent reform policies, and to hold a national dialogue that will thoroughly examine all contentious issues.”
