1. Home
2. Lebanon
3. Gemayel, Sleiman, and Siniora Present a Rescue Plan for Lebanon

Former presidents Amine Gemayel and Michel Sleiman, along with former prime minister Fouad Siniora, presented a five-point rescue plan to save Lebanon, on Wednesday, following a meeting they held at Gemayel’s residence in Bikfaya.

Restoring Lebanese sovereignty and putting an end to the armed confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah are the main goals of the plan.

First, they demanded “the full and rigorous implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and an immediate ceasefire.”

“Unconditional unblocking of the presidential elections” was the next demand made by the three.

In reference to the Iranian sway over the country, they demanded that the new President enjoys the confidence of the Lebanese to reconstitute Lebanese institutions, so that the state can extend its authority over all its administrations and services, without external interference.

Then, with the help of friendly nations and organizations, they demanded the establishment of a government of national salvation that will put in place and implement a plan to rebuild the state and what was destroyed by Israel.

Regarding Lebanon’s non-interference in regional disputes, their fourth point referred to “the confirmation of state authority over all Lebanese territory on the basis of international and Arab resolutions, and the Baabda Declaration.” Similarly, they supported the Taif Accord’s full implementation.

The implementation of a financial, economic, administrative, and institutional reform and recovery plan, based on standards that guarantee good governance, was the subject of the fifth point.

In the statement, which was read by Gemayel, the three denounced the deadly and destructive Israeli attacks on Lebanon.

In response to inquiries from the media, Siniora made clear that “Israel and Hezbollah have not implemented UN Resolution 1701 since the end of the 2006 war.” He stressed that this resolution “prohibits the entry of weapons into Lebanon, except for the Army and UNIFIL, as well as the presence of weapons south of the Litani River.”

“It is true that the state has deployed the Army in southern Lebanon, but 1701 has barely been implemented,” Siniora added.