Suleiman Calls for Putting Nation's Capabilities in Single Defense Strategy

President Michel Suleiman on Thursday called for an end to the paralysis of constitutional institutions and said the country's capabilities should be put in a single strategy to defend Lebanon.

During a ceremony at Baabda Palace to launch a plan to eradicate child labor, Suleiman said: “We want responsible constitutional institutions and leaders who consider the nation's interest as their priority.”

He appealed for “putting the national capabilities in a single strategy to defend Lebanon.”

Suleiman also rejected Lebanon's involvement in the region's crises in reference to Hizbullah's participation in the war in Syria.

Hizbullah fighters are helping Syrian President Bashar Assad's troops crush the rebellion against him. Many fighters from Lebanon have also crossed the border to Syria to help the armed rebels.

“Our political choices should restore our international relations, not provide excuses for the establishment of environments that embrace terrorists, prevent the spying carried out by Israel and lead to the policy of neutrality,” he said.

“Such options are adopted through the implementation of the Baabda Declaration that has been backed by most countries,” he said about a decision reached by the country's rival leaders last year to distance Lebanon from the region's crises.

Suleiman urged the parliament and involved ministries to take decisions on pending issues such as the wage scale and pension.

He also called for a comprehensive national development plan.

Suleiman called for an end to the paralysis of administrative and constitutional institutions.

“Our children want to live in a normal environment that protects them, a family that embraces them and a school that gives them shelter,” he said in his speech.

He also said Lebanon's children dream of a country where there is unity and where people don't blindly follow politicians.