The Lebanese-Canadian Coordination Committee (CCLC) has emphasized the need to end Iranian control of arms as a crucial condition to unlock global support for Lebanon.
The CCLC expressed strong support for newly elected President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister-designate Judge Nawaf Salam, praising their potential to restore sovereignty, combat corruption, and rebuild trust in the Lebanese state.
In a press release, the CCLC highlighted the significance of Judge Salam’s designation, describing him as “an outsider to the corrupt establishment” and a pivotal figure in forming a constitutionally grounded government free from the influence of weapons.
The statement followed a roundtable discussion, held on January 22, hosted by Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, where optimism about Lebanon’s recent political developments was shared.
However, the CCLC warned that “Hezbollah’s refusal to surrender its arms delays reforms, reconstruction, and the implementation of UN Resolution 1701.”
In this context, the CCLC reiterated that Canada, currently presiding over the G7, continues to support the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and provide then with assistance. Donor countries are also prepared, as stated in the release, to provide a total of $11 billion to Lebanon. However, this depends on "the new Lebanese government's implementation of economic and political reforms as required by the international community."
Calling on Lebanese citizens to unite, the CCLC emphasized the urgency of seizing this opportunity for reform and state-building, while stressing the need to end Lebanon’s role as a battleground for regional conflicts.
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