Grand Mufti of the Lebanese Republic, Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian, on Tuesday welcomed at his Dar Al-Fatwa residence Caretaker Minister of Interior and Municipalities, Judge Bassam Mawlawi, who said in the wake of the meeting that talks with His Eminence mainly touched on an array of national matters that concern Lebanon and the Lebanese.

“We’ve assured His Eminence that all the steps being taken by the Ministry of Interior fell in the interest of Lebanon and the Lebanese in a bid to protect the Lebanese system from everything that leads to sabotaging civil peace, sabotaging coexistence, and sabotaging our Lebanese societies,” Mawlawi said, affirming that Lebanon currently enjoys a “good security situation.”

Replying to a question whether Lebanon’s economic collapse could lead to a security collapse, Mawlawi said, “Despite the difficult circumstances that we are going through, the security forces are still accomplishing their duties to the fullest; we support them, and we appreciate their efforts. We are endeavoring to secure their needs, knowing that they are up to the existing burden and responsibility.”

Responding to calls to divide the municipality of Beirut, Mawlawi said that he advocated unity rather than division. “The period of dividing Beirut has passed, and God willing, it will not return. We cleave to coexistence, and what leads to coexistence is an understanding among the people of Beirut, not their division,” Mawlawi explained.