The Director General of General Security Major General Abbas Ibrahim said that he believes that there is no security stability without political stability. “Addressing security must be through a policy that requires non-discrimination, and I don’t practice political work,” he added.

Ibrahim pointed out that communication with others is vital in democratic systems, and the success of the security man lies in communicating with everyone.

Major General Ibrahim said in a radio statement via “Radio Free Lebanon”: “I entered as a mediator between President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and I reached a place where the government was ready, and I never asked for credit.” He added that the government would not have been born without the internal will, which was obvious in our talks.

Ibrahim said that the French President Emmanuel Macron had earlier given deadlines without obliging anyone. “There was no homogeneity between former Prime Minister Saad Hariri and President Aoun, but was found with Mikati.”

He stated that “of course, there was political pressure from abroad that accelerated the formation process. Mikati assigned me to communicate and Aoun welcomed this initiative, with the international desire.” He pointed out that the difference between Mikati and Hariri is that the latter did not communicate with the parliamentary blocs, and mainly with the largest parliamentary bloc headed by former Minister Gebran Bassil.

Ibrahim explained that in the political framework there are differences between the ‘Development and Liberation’ bloc and the ‘Strong Lebanon’ bloc, and I will not stand with anyone against anyone, I will unite and will not divide.

He pointed out that Bassil did not obtain the blocking third, and Aoun did not demand it, but rather he worked to consolidate the authority of the Presidency of the Republic’s role in forming the government, and this is what he got. Aoun told the Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi that he doesn’t want the blocking third and he didn’t mention it.

Ibrahim considered that the government is steadfast, and there is no need for pessimism, because it will be start next week to communicate with the IMF, and the government will act as if it will remain for a long time and not for 8 months. He stated: “No one will help us, if we do not help ourselves. The drop in the dollar exchange rate on the black market is a positive sign.”

Ibrahim wondered, “Is there a government that completed its ministerial statement in this record time?” He pointed out that there are ready plans for President Michel Aoun for the end of his covenant and for the reform process in the coming months.

Ibrahim extended his great thanks to the Iraqi Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kazemi, for being ready to help Lebanon in all files. He added: “I asked Al-Kazemi for fuel to secure electricity in Lebanon and we agreed to receive 500,000 tons of fuel, and it was raised to 1 million tons.

He stated that a person should invest his relations for the benefit of his country. “End of day Lebanese will benefit from the Iraqi fuel to provide electricity. The agreement with Iraqi’s is to pay the dues through the services, not through the central bank.”

Ibrahim explained that “General Security made a census this summer on tourists entering Lebanon, which concluded that Iraqis were on top of the list of tourists entering the country this year (300,000 Iraqis), most of them came for health tourism, and I seek more agreements with Iraq.”

He said that the General Security is responsible for the legitimate crossings, and the Secretary General of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, is appreciated because he has secured the fuel oil for the Lebanese people. “When state’s energy runs out, each person must invest in his relations and ask for help.”

He added that there is smuggling from Syria to Lebanon and vice versa, and there is no one responsible for this, but rather the lack of coordination between the Lebanese state and the Syrian Republic.