Meeting of LAF Commander in Chief General Joseph Aoun with the command staff, leaders of major units and independent regiments, in the presence of members from the Military Council.
The LAF Commander in Chief General Joseph Aoun held a meeting in Yarzeh with the command staff and the leaders of the major units and independent regiments in the presence of the members of the Military Council. He went through the local and regional developments and the situation of the military institution, and provided them with the necessary directives to overcome the crises and challenges facing Lebanon.
During the meeting, General Aoun spoke about the suffering of the country as a result of the deteriorating economic situation, indicating that the army is part of this people and is equally suffering.
He said, "The political crisis is reflected in all levels, especially economically, which has led to high rates of poverty and hunger. The money of depositors is being held in banks, salaries have lost their purchasing value. Therefore, the salary of the military has lost its value." He added, "Soldiers are suffering and starving like the people”, addressing the officials:" Where are we going? What do you intend to do? We have warned more than once about the danger of the situation and the possibility of its explosion. "
General Aoun stressed that the army supports the freedom of peaceful expression that is stipulated in the constitution and international laws, but without assaulting public and private property, stressing that the army will not allow harm to stability and civil peace.
He pointed out that the army’s budget is reduced every year; as a result, funds are insufficient until the end of the year. He explained that the military institution had taken the initiative to adopt a wide austerity policy on its own in line with the economic situation, and he asked: “Do you want an army or not? Do you want a strong institution or not? The army is required to perform many tasks and is always ready, but that cannot be met with continuous and repeated cuts to the budget and discussions about the rights of the military”. He added, “We spoke with those concerned because the matter affects the morale of the soldiers, but we did not reach a conclusion, unfortunately”. “They don’t care about the army nor the suffering of its soldiers”.
General Aoun stated that, despite great economic pressures that the army suffers from, there are no cases of escapes due to the situation. Soldiers find that the military institution is the surest guarantor for their future and that of their families, and he pointed out that “some accuse us that we live in bliss, but this is not true and these are false accusations that we will not accept, and we will not accept that the rights of our soldiers be violated, whether in active service or retired.”, “Despite our constant willingness to sacrifice for the sake of our country and our people, our rights are the duty of the state towards us”. Regarding the aid that the army accepts, he explained that had it not been for this aid, the situation would have been much worse, regardless of its size, as the army duly accepts it to maintain operational readiness.
General Aoun emphasized that LAF is exposed to media and political campaigns aimed at making it obedient, stressing that this will never happen. “The army is an institution that has its own privacy, and it is not permissible to interfere in its affairs, whether by transfers, promotions, or its course and policy. This matter certainly annoys some people”. He added: "Our conscience is clear and we do not have hidden goals. What we do is publicly announced. We want to preserve the institution and ensure its continuity and unity regardless of the disruption." General Aoun also stated "If the goal of these campaigns is to weaken at the army and distort its image, we will not allow the army to become a weak spot for anyone, and this will not affect our morale and our missions. Perhaps some have hidden goals and objectives in criticizing the army and launching campaigns against it, and they realize that the dismantling of the army means the end of our entity. I assure that the dignity of the institution is above any consideration, and the dignity of soldiers and martyrs is a trust placed in us and we will not allow anyone to harm it.” General Aoun affirmed that the army respects political diversity, the plurality of opinions, and freedom of information and expression, stressing that freedom is a responsibility.
General Joseph Aoun commended the efforts of the officers and soldiers who face various pressures, and said: “I realize how tired you are. With your wisdom and self-control, you spared Lebanon major clashes, and continue doing so. You face the campaigns against you with rationality, courage and discipline. Circumstances placed you in the face of your people and your families, but with your wisdom, you passed the difficult stage.” “On the issue of smuggling at the borders, he called on those who accuse the army of negligence to closely inspect the borders and learn about the control towers and procedures that the army has achieved, and the conditions in which the soldiers are working.
General Aoun continued: "With regard to the indirect negotiation process on demarcating the maritime borders with the Israeli enemy, the role of the army is purely technical, and we are very serious in reaching a solution that preserves our national rights and wealth in accordance with international laws." LAF commander called on the political authority to carry out its duties to support the negotiating delegation and accompany it, and to determine what is required of it, or to declare its position explicitly. On the security front, he indicated that the situation is unstable due to the economic crisis and its repercussions and the continued threats and daily breaches of the Israeli enemy, in addition to terrorist sleeping cells that seek to exploit the internal conditions and camps for displaced Syrians and Palestinian refugees to tamper with security and stability.
In conclusion, General Aoun praised the efforts of the members of the military institution, calling them to remain up to the level of responsibility, indicating that the people trust their army, and said: "No matter how many campaigns against us, this will not deter us from carrying out our sacred duties and tasks to protect the nation and the people."
