The explosion of the port … an important declaration of the Presidency of the Republic

The Office of Media of the Presidency of the Republic issued a statement in which it indicated that “visible, read and audible media published statements and analyzes that included complaints about the responsibility of the President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, in relation to the subject of the ongoing investigations into the painful bombing that occurred in the port of Beirut on August 4, and what left it with martyrs, injuries and massive damage in the capital.

Make things clear, the Information Office of the Presidency of the Republic is interested in clarifying the following:

First: The first time that the President of the Republic was informed of the presence of quantities of ammonium nitrate in deposit No. 12 of the port of Beirut was through a report from the General Directorate of State Security, which arrived on July 21. Upon seeing it, President Aoun asked his military and security adviser to follow up on the content of this report with the secretary general of the Supreme Defense Council, which includes all relevant security services and ministries. This is what was actually done in accordance with the law and applicable regulations. On July 28, 2020, the Secretary General of the Supreme Defense Council informed the security and military adviser that he was taking care of the matter, and that he sent a letter to the Ministry of Works, which he received on Monday, August 3, 2020.

Second: The President of the Republic did not interfere, either closely or remotely, in the investigations carried out by the Judge of Judicial Investigation for the crime of bomb attack, although he called on more than one occasion to expedite its completion in order to know all the circumstances related to this crime and determine the responsibilities, especially towards the families of the martyrs and wounded who lost loved ones and relatives, and have the right to know who was responsible for the disaster that occurred.

Third: During the meeting that the President of the Republic held with the Supreme Council of the Judiciary last Tuesday, the discussion did not touch the investigation of the port crime, so everything that circulates about President Aoun’s request to intervene in the The investigation is false and unfounded, because the investigation into this meeting was limited to the work of the courts, the need to activate them and other issues that concern the Supreme Judicial Council.