Justice Minister Adel Nassar said Wednesday that he was convinced Hezbollah's weapons would eventually be placed under State control, but warned that the process needed to move quickly as Lebanon seeks to protect its interests and avoid another war.

"We have reached the point where we are convinced that Hezbollah's weapons will be handed over to the state, through a rational process and with the least possible damage," Nassar said at a news conference reviewing the Justice Ministry's work.

"Time is running out, because the State's interests require that weapons be brought under its control," he added.

Nassar said Hezbollah's weapons had brought Lebanon "nothing but disasters and reckless adventures," leaving behind destruction and deaths without offering a clear way forward.

He said the continued existence of the group's arsenal could serve one of two purposes: obstructing negotiations aimed at recovering Lebanese territory and stopping attacks, or preparing for another "war of support."

"Either the goal is to obstruct negotiations to recover our land and stop the attacks, or it is to prepare for another war of support," Nassar said. "That would mean sacrificing Lebanon for the interests of others."

Nassar rejected arguments claiming that efforts to disarm Hezbollah amount to a threat to Lebanon's Shiite community.

"To say that this issue affects the Shiite community is simply not true," he said. "Our goal is to guarantee the security of all Lebanese, recover our land, protect every part of the country and rebuild."

"Building the state is not directed against any community," Nassar added. "But for one group to hide behind its sect in order to preserve its weapons is not an acceptable position."

He also said Lebanese citizens should not have to live with the prospect of another conflict.

"Lebanese people cannot be expected to live with the constant fear that war could return," Nassar said. "Even the party's leadership receives decisions that are made elsewhere. That fear is unacceptable, and the issue of placing all weapons under state control must be addressed as quickly as possible."

Turning to judicial affairs, Nassar said the Justice Ministry was preparing to restore operations at the Nabatiyeh Palace of Justice in southern Lebanon.

"My visit was successful, and I saw a strong desire for the state to be present," he said. "The State has a responsibility toward the people of the south, and our goal is to restore the work of the  Nabatiyeh courthouse."

Nassar said the ministry would also take measures to safeguard judicial files during what he described as a difficult period.

On the investigation into the 2020 Beirut port explosion, he said the process was proceeding properly and remained one of the ministry's main priorities.

"The investigation has followed the proper course and has been one of our key priorities," Nassar said. "The Public Prosecutor's Office has issued its submission, and we are now waiting for Investigating Judge Tarek Bitar to complete his work."

"I salute him, and I expect the indictment to be issued before the end of the year," he added.

Nassar said productivity in Lebanon's judiciary has increased substantially, with a progress rate ranging from 40% to 500% in different areas.

Overall productivity in the Lebanese judicial system had risen by an average of 20%, he said, despite what he described as extremely difficult working conditions for judges.

He also said all commercial registry files in Baabda had been removed and archived either at the Baabda registry or at a newly established center in Jal el-Dib.

Nassar said judicial independence remained a central priority for his ministry.

"I submitted today to the Council of Ministers a draft law on the independence of the ordinary judiciary," he said, adding that a separate draft law on the independence of the administrative judiciary had been sent to a parliamentary subcommittee.

"Both are essential," he said.

Nassar said Lebanon had entered an agreement providing for the exchange of information to help combat crime, but stressed that personal data needed to be protected for such cooperation to function properly.

"We have entered into an agreement that provides for the exchange of information to combat crime," he said. "But for that to work, personal data must be protected. That is why this law is so important."

He said the proposed legislation met the necessary requirements and praised the head and members of the Higher Judicial Council for completing partial judicial appointments.

Nassar also insisted that political patronage had been excluded from the latest judicial appointments and reshuffles.

"All of the political power-sharing and patronage that Lebanon used to know has been removed from the appointment and judicial reshuffle process," he said.

He said critics of the process had been unable to substantiate claims of political interference.

Nassar praised President Joseph Aoun, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam for what he described as their decision to stay out of the judicial appointment process.

Nassar said the Justice Ministry was also working on a project to digitize Lebanon's courts in cooperation with the European Union.

"We have agreed with the European Union on a project to digitize the courts," he said. "It will help reduce delays and ensure that the courts can operate securely and efficiently."

He also highlighted efforts to abolish the death penalty, describing the issue as an important part of Lebanon's judicial and human-rights agenda.

"This is not about being lenient toward crime," Nassar said. "Lebanon has regained its important and pioneering role in the region when it comes to fundamental rights."

Nassar said Lebanon has also made progress in rebuilding its judicial training system, describing the country as having "returned to the global map."

He pointed to the revival of the Judicial Institute, whose work had previously been suspended.

"The Judicial Institute had been inactive, but we have revived it," he said. "We have trained judges in France and updated the institute's curriculum because it represents the future of the judiciary."

For the first time in nine years, Nassar said, Lebanon had held a competitive examination to select new judges for admission to the institute.

"The process was conducted transparently, and we are now waiting for the results," he said.

Nassar said cooperation with France was proceeding normally, particularly in the training of Lebanese judges.

Lebanon has also concluded a number of international agreements on judicial cooperation with Pakistan, Morocco and France, he said.

He said French authorities had also helped resolve an issue involving Lebanese lawyers seeking admission to the French Bar.

"The French side cooperated with us, particularly because a large number of Lebanese wanted to register with the French Bar," Nassar said.

"The agreement benefits Lebanese applicants who meet the necessary requirements for registration, and this issue has now been resolved," he added.