00:00Iran dominating the geopolitics as this region, the Middle East and the Gulf look for answers
00:06and a way out of a diplomatic crisis that could now escalate into a full-blown military conflict
00:12between the United States and Iran.
00:15The Gulf repeating this is a time for stability, for reforms, for economic progress and certainly not war.
00:22That call was also echoed by one of the countries that could be affected by a knock-on effect
00:26if indeed there is a regional escalation and a war does take place and that is of course Lebanon.
00:32The Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam told us his country's focus on reforms, stability
00:37and he wants to see the same applied to the entire region.
00:41First of all, I mean, we want, I mean, stability of the region comes first for us.
00:50Definitely, anything that could avoid an all-out war in the region is be more than welcome.
00:59As far as Lebanon is concerned, I have said, I would like to reaffirm that the question of war and peace
01:08is in the hands of the government and solely of the government.
01:11So you say perhaps this is a time to focus on the economy, reforms and not escalate on a military front.
01:18There's been already many issues over the past three years.
01:21But unfortunately, I mean, we still have to take care of parts of the South that are occupied by Israel.
01:28We have to take care of daily violations of our sovereignty by Israel and we still need to liberate a number of our citizens
01:41who have been captured by Israel and doing so only perpetuates conflict in the region,
01:48and undermine my government's efforts to, no, I mean, not to, to express state authority over the whole country
02:00and only fuels instability.
02:03And just finally, what is your message to European leaders?
02:06They say they want to be more engaged, also help your country, help the region.
02:09What is your message now for the European Union?
02:12Okay, I'm not asking anyone, I mean, to come and do our job,
02:16but definitely we need the help of all our partners in Europe and in the Arab world.
02:22And on March 6, a conference to support the Lebanese armed forces is planned in Paris
02:31and we'll need their help because, I mean, the army is our main tool to enforce our goal
02:43to have a monopoly over arms in the country and to restore state authority over the Lebanese territory.
02:56Well, thank you so much for being so generous with your time.
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