Siniora: Rebuilding the country is impossible as long as Hezbollah controls the state

Former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said on Wednesday country is facing a national crisis and not a sectarian one.

“It is not a crisis tied to a party or side, but rather a crisis that Lebanon is facing, and the Lebanese state has become dependent and no longer has the decision and power," he stressed during a press conference.

“Iran's influence, through its arms, inhibits the state from reclaiming its authority and sovereignty and prevents it from being built," he noted.

"The gravity of the issue," Siniora continued, "was also stated by Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai, who demanded the liberation of the state from arms control."

On another note, he said that he believes that former Prime Minister Saad Hariri clashed with the Iranian influence, which is trying and preventing the state from restoring its role and powers and preventing it from being established “through its militia arms.”

“These groups are working hard to disrupt the democratic work and are now in control of the law, order and the constitution,” he said.

Siniora also pointed out that Hariri “tried as much as possible to round the corners to prevent strife” until he suspended his political work.

He believes that rebuilding the country is impossible as long as Hezbollah controls the state, backed by its weapons, adding however that “it cannot be eliminated from the equation.”

He pointed out that "all stances that support Lebanon's sovereignty and the implementation of International resolutions are a reflection that the majority wants to bring Lebanon out of its crisis after a party interfered in Arab countries' affairs, isolated Lebanon, and threatened with precision missiles," he said.