(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — The Future Movement and Hezbollah have mutually agreed to remove political posters and banners in Beirut, Sidon, and Tripoli, as dialogue sessions between the two groups are calling to defuse sectarian tensions.
Beirut Governor Ziad Chebib and North Lebanon Governor Ramzi Nohra along with party officials supervised the campaign to remove all signs and posters from the three regions.
“There were no objections, people were welcoming to us and about the campaign,” Chebib told Beirut-based newspaper, The Daily Star. “This is a visual pollution that every citizen needs to fight in order to have a clean environment.”
Nohra echoed Chebib’s remarks, adding that he also didn’t receive any objection.
“The campaign has begun and will not stop until all party banners and flags are removed, except for the Lebanese flag which will remain fluttering in all Lebanese areas,” Nohra said.
This decision comes after Hezbollah and the Future Movement continue to host talks meant to defuse sectarian tension and facilitate the election of a new president.
Future MP Ammar Houri says this is only the “first step” in negotiations.
“We hope it is one step in the right direction, since political banners contribute to fueling tensions, and we had agreed with Hezbollah to defuse tensions as part of the dialogue,” Future MP Ammar Houri told a Beirut radio station.