Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam on Wednesday (September 14th) launched official talks on the national plan to fight terrorism, Lebanon's Naharnet reported.
“Lebanon is in the heart of the battle against terrorism," he said. "It is directly involved with the reduction of violent extremism" in the region and world.
Terrorism must be tackled at both global and national levels, he said, noting that "violent extremism is a plight surging worldwide, yet fighting it must not remain a general international headline, but must be part of thorough work".
"Confronting extremism, terrorism and violence in Lebanon requires strengthening the structure of the state through the regularity of the government institutions, and ending the current imbalances in it," Salam said.
"The first step in that is, as we have always repeated, through the election of a president," he said.
"Strengthening the structure of the state also requires the restoration of democratic mechanisms that allow accountability, renewal of the political elites and enhancing participation in governance through the conduction of parliamentary elections, in accordance with the new law that ensures fair representation," he added.
"The battle with terrorism in Lebanon requires improving the performance of the public administrations and promoting the rule of law, because any defect in the application of justice is the shortest path to extremism and terrorism," he said.
