NNA - Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, on Sunday toured the operations rooms of the Lebanese Army, the Internal Security Forces, and General Security to keep pace with the measures taken to ensure the success of the voting process for Lebanon’s 2022 parliamentary elections.
The Prime Minister kicked off his tour by visiting the army’s headquarters, where he was received by Minister of National Defense, Maurice Sleem, and Lebanese Army Commander, General Joseph Aoun.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister saluted the Army’s leadership, officers, and members, for the great efforts they’re exerting to keep pace with the electoral process, to control the security situation, and to ensure smooth balloting.
"Despite the difficult conditions it endures, the army continues to perform its duties with utmost morality and discipline; this is much appreciated and confirms that the army is watching over the country,” Mikati added.
"To all the skeptics, we say that the state is fully capable and things are under control. All the credit goes to the country’s security forces, especially the Lebanese Army; we call on everyone to give priority to national interests over personal ones,” he added.
For his part, Minister of National Defense, Maurice Sleem, saluted the efforts of the military institution during this important Election Day. “Thanks to their faith in their country and the wisdom of their leadership, citizens can exercise their democratic right to vote,” he added.
As for Army Commander, General Joseph Aoun, he said: "The soldiers' faith and firm will are their motivation to carry out their missions against all odds."
The Prime Minister then moved to the "Internal Security Forces" headquarters in Ashrafieh, where he was received by Minister of Interior, Bassam Mawlawi, and Internal Security Forces Director-General, Major General Imad Osman.
A meeting was later held at the operations room of the Internal Security Forces. In a statement issued in the wake of the meeting, PM Mikati said: “Approximately 100,000 ISF officers have accompanied and organized the electoral process. The security forces have a great role to play, especially in making this distinguished day democratically successful.”
In response to a question about the Sunni boycott of elections, Mikati expressed hope that elections will not be approached from a sectarian point of view, asserting that there were no Sunni calls for boycotting elections.
In response to another question the Prime Minister said, "The flaws that are being reported are repeated in all elections and are followed up and addressed accordingly. The most important thing is that Lebanon wins in the end. My call to the Lebanese is that they vote with full conscience and freedom and choose whoever represents them.”
For his part, the Minister of Interior noted that there might be a delay in the announcement of results due to the high turnout of voters at polling stations.
Mikati and the Interior Minister then moved to the General Security’s General Directorate, where they were received by Major General, Abbas Ibrahim.
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