Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Tuesday reaffirmed his government’s commitment to a sweeping reform agenda and the restoration of full state sovereignty, pledging to rebuild trust with the Lebanese people and international investors.

Speaking at a reception hosted in his honor at the Lebanese Consulate in the United Arab Emirates, Salam told members of the Lebanese community that the government's primary project is to rebuild state institutions, deliver long-awaited reforms, and reassert Lebanon's sovereign authority over all of its territory.

“I know that most of you came here because Lebanon has not witnessed normal conditions in years due to wars and repeated crises,” Salam said. “But your presence in the UAE has supported Lebanon in recent years, and that support is deeply valued.”

He acknowledged that Lebanon had missed multiple critical junctures over the past three decades, including the flawed implementation of the 1989 Taif Agreement, which ended the Lebanese Civil War.

“We lost people’s trust in the political system due to the selective way the Taif Agreement was applied,” he said. “We also failed to seize the opportunities presented by the Israeli and later Syrian withdrawals from Lebanon.”

But Salam said Lebanon now stands at a new turning point.

“Most of you left because you lost faith in Lebanon. Our job today is to win back that faith. We have one project: rebuilding the state.”

Salam outlined a multi-pronged reform strategy, beginning with financial, administrative, and political overhauls. Though his government secured parliamentary confidence just three months ago, he said, it has already passed a law lifting banking secrecy, being a key demand from international donors and reform advocates.

The cabinet is also advancing legislation to restructure Lebanon’s banking sector and close the country’s massive financial gap. A draft law to bolster judicial independence is currently under review and expected to be issued soon.

The prime minister noted that reforming the civil service is a parallel priority.

“We have adopted a new appointment mechanism based on transparency and meritocracy,” he said. “It has already led to the selection of the new president of the Council for Development and Reconstruction, and soon we will appoint the rest of the members under this system.”

Salam added that regulatory authorities for the telecommunications and electricity sectors had been established, with appointments to follow.

On security, Salam underscored his cabinet’s firm stance on reestablishing full state control.

“We allocated three sections of our ministerial statement to this issue,” he said, referencing the Taif Agreement’s principle of state sovereignty and exclusive state control over arms. “The Lebanese state must regain sole authority over decisions of war and peace.”

He criticized Israel’s continued occupation of five points in southern Lebanon, saying it undermines the state’s ability to extend its authority.

“This is no longer the era of World War I; we are living in a time of satellites, spy balloons, and on-the-ground networks,” he said. “Yet Israel’s occupation continues to obstruct the full assertion of Lebanon’s sovereignty, using our own forces.”

Salam confirmed that municipal elections had been held successfully and that the government is preparing to hold parliamentary elections in under a year. He said his administration will soon present proposed amendments to the electoral law aimed at improving the process.

He also hinted at tangible signs of progress.

“Many of you will visit Lebanon in the coming weeks and months,” he told the expats. “You will certainly see noticeable changes, especially along the road from the airport.”