
Bisat: No economic recovery without security or monopoly on weapons
Since the start of Joseph Aoun's presidency, Lebanese authorities have reaffirmed their willingness to reclaim exclusive control over armed forces, particularly after the latest war between Israel and Hezbollah.
'There will be no economic recovery without security,' Bisat said. 'And there will be no security without the state's monopoly on weapons and on decisions of war and peace.'
Two silo projects
Turning to Beirut port's grain silos — nearly destroyed in the Aug. 4, 2020, explosion — Bisat said the ministry is pursuing two separate initiatives.
'The first project concerns the old silos in Beirut. It's a complicated issue — ecologically, administratively and politically,' he said. 'The second is to build new silos in strategic areas, including Tripoli and the Bekaa.'
Bisat stressed the north's importance, saying, 'There can be no recovery of the Lebanese economy without recovery in Tripoli's economy.' He highlighted the city's labor force, export capacity and artisanal industries. 'We'll do everything we can to support them.'
The minister added that the government is 'very optimistic' about an investment plan linking Tripoli's port to the Rachid Karameh International Fair and Qleiaat airport. 'It's an advanced project, and many factors — political, economic and others — are needed to make it succeed,' he said. 'International funding is available, but we must implement reforms.'
He confirmed that a board of directors will be formed to oversee the Karameh Fair.
'Tripoli is not being left off the economic map. The North is central to the state's economic plan,' Bisat said, announcing $250 million in World Bank funding for development, including $70 million in low-interest loans. 'We will try to distribute these funds fairly and efficiently.'
In early July, rumors of a potential territorial deal between Damascus and Tel Aviv — reportedly involving Israel's occupied Golan Heights and the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli — sparked alarm in Lebanon. Tripoli remains one of the country's poorest cities.
The Rachid Karameh International Fair, designed in the 1960s by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer, was meant to be a regional hub for trade shows, cultural events and exhibitions. Once a symbol of Lebanon's post-independence ambitions, it has long sat idle.
'This is a national treasure,' Bisat said earlier this month. 'It can no longer be treated as just a beautiful architectural site. It must fulfill its economic potential.'
Government 'committed' to Qleiaat Airport
On the proposed redevelopment of Rene Moawad Airport in Qleiaat, Bisat said the government is finalizing studies on its economic and financial viability, with results expected by year's end.
'Prime Minister Nawaf Salam is committed to this project,' he said. 'We are studying the best path to launch it.'
Built by the French military in 1938 and handed to the Lebanese Army in 1966, the airport was renamed in honor of President Rene Moawad, who was elected there before his assassination in 1989. The Salam government hopes to rehabilitate the site to supplement Beirut's main airport and bolster Akkar's long-overlooked economy.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


L'Orient-Le Jour
20 minutes ago
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Aoun congratulates Zahleh for 'International City of Vine and Wine' title
BEIRUT — President Joseph Aoun congratulated the city of Zahleh on Sunday after it was named "International City of Vine and Wine" for 2025 by the International Organization of Vine and Wine. On Wednesday, the International Organization of Vine and Wine announced in a statement relayed by the state-run National News Agency its "approval of the designation of Zahleh as a World Wine City (...) in recognition of its historical, cultural, and agricultural role in promoting grape cultivation and wine production.' Also on Wednesday, the municipality of Zahleh announced that the city officially received the title of "City of Wine" for 2025, making it is the tenth place worldwide to earn this recognition. Aoun considered this announcement as an achievement for Lebanon and the "result of joint efforts by the Agriculture Ministry and wine producers in Lebanon to develop and market Lebanese wine over the past years", according to the state-run National News Agency. 'Congratulations to Zahleh and Lebanon, Lebanese wine has gone global", the President added. With the support of the Agriculture Minster, Nizar Hani, Zahleh had submitted a comprehensive file to the international organization that included maps of the areas planted with grapes, the number of wineries in the city and its district, and data showing Zahleh's leadership in this sector. The organization then took its decision based on the city's scientific and professional criteria.


Ya Libnan
an hour ago
- Ya Libnan
Barrack piles on pressure on Lebanon over Hezbollah disarmament
The special envoy has led US discussions with Lebanese leaders over Hezbollah's disarmament over the months [Getty/file photo] US envoy Tom Barrack has continued to apply pressure on the Lebanese government to speed up the disarming of Hezbollah . The ambassador to Turkey and special envoy for Syria warned on Sunday that the Lebanese government's credibility 'rests on its ability to match principle with practice,' in reference to pledges that Beirut has made to gain state monopoly on arms. 'The government and Hezbollah need to fully commit and act now in order to not consign the Lebanese people to the stumbling status quo,' he said. 'As long as Hezbollah retains arms, words will not suffice.' On Friday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stressed that negotiations with Hezbollah remain ongoing but acknowledged that they were progressing very slowly. 'There is some responsiveness to the ideas we're discussing, even things are moving at a slow pace,' he said. Hezbollah had rejected Barrack's roadmap that would see the group disarm within four months, in exchange for a halt to Israeli withdrawal from the country, as well as a cessation of strikes. The group's current leader, Naim Qassem, said: 'We are a people who do not surrender', and rejected US pressure to act on the matter. Qassem , while maintaining being open to dialogue, has continuously stressed that the group giving up its arms would be 'suicidal' amid Israel's frequent strikes on the country's south. Disarmament has been the centre of national and international negotiations with Lebanon following the November ceasefire, with Barrack making several diplomatic visits to Beirut on the matter since his appointment. One of Lebanon's most high-profile politicians, Walid Jumblatt , spoke in favour of Hezbollah's disarmament in an interview with Saudi channel Al-Arabiya . The Druze leader said that Hezbollah must 'realise that keeping its weapons and missiles serves no purpose,' stressing that it would cause problems for the country and Lebanon would 'not stabilise' as a result, in Saturday's interview. Founded in the 1980s in response to Israel's invasion of southern Lebanon, the Iran-backed group grew into a Shia Islamist party and militant group. The group has fought several conflicts against Israel, but was significantly weakened late last year after Tel Aviv launched a full-scale war in Lebanon, in parallel with the military onslaught in Gaza. Several high-profile members were killed, including its Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, as well as his successor, Hashem Safieddine. More than 4,000 Lebanese were killed by Israel, who struck the country's south, Beirut and the eastern Beqaa Valley, among other locations. A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was then reached in November last year, which Israel routinely continues to violate, cling that Hezbollah has not complied with UN Resolutions 1559 and 1701 which call for disarming all militias in Lebanon New Arab


MTV Lebanon
an hour ago
- MTV Lebanon
27 Jul 2025 16:04 PM President Aoun Congratulates Zahle on Its Declaration as ‘City of Vines and Wine'
President of the Republic Joseph Aoun considered the declaration of Zahle as a "World City of Vine and Wine" by the International Organization of Vine and Wine an achievement for Lebanon and the fruit of the joint efforts of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lebanese wine producers to develop and market Lebanese wine over the past years. "Congratulations to Zahle and to Lebanon. Lebanese wine has become world-class," the President proudly affirmed.