Alain Aoun: Army’s goal is to prevent militants’ infiltration into Arsal

NNA – MP Alain Aoun deemed Saturday that the aim behind the ongoing events in Arsal is to prevent the infiltration of militants into Arsal, noting that “controlling the Lebanese borders helps to fortify internal security and weaken the terrorist threat and its plots inside Lebanon.”

Speaking in an interview to “Voice of Lebanon” Radio Station, Aoun stressed that the Lebanese Army is carrying out its duties to contain the situation in the outskirts of Arsal, confronting militants and not refugees, contrary to some insinuations.

“There is no problem with the Syrian refugees inside the camps,” Aoun emphasized, adding “the army is only targeting terrorists.”

“There is a great possibility that the pace of the return of the displaced will continue as the necessary guarantees and conditions for their safe return are ensured,” stated Aoun.

Responding to a question about recent diplomatic appointments, Aoun considered that accusations over this issue are unjustified, noting that “only six people were chosen from the outside for their long years of experience that serve Lebanon’s bilateral relations.”

Over the approved salary scale, Aoun explained that “the salary series cannot satisfy everyone, but it positively targets more than a million people.” He highlighted, herein, the need for finding new incentives to stimulate the economy in the next two years, so as to avoid reaching a state of collapse in 2019.