Suleiman Stresses Commitment to Dialogue, Interest in Success of Arab Initiative on Syria

President Michel Suleiman vowed on Tuesday to resume the National Dialogue and said the success of the Arab initiative to resolve the Syrian crisis falls in Lebanon’s interest.

“I will continue to exert efforts to guarantee all the necessary conditions to resume dialogue between all parties to preserve the safety of the Lebanese” and achieve a national defense strategy, Suleiman told the diplomatic corps that was in Baabda palace for a protocol visit on the occasion of the New Year.

“Lebanon has a national interest in seeing the success of the Arab initiative to resolve the Syrian crisis,” he said.

Syria has been engulfed in turmoil since March when the regime launched a deadly crackdown on protestors.

In his speech, Suleiman condemned the terrorist bombings that targeted the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon in the past year and vowed to continue the probe to find the culprits and bring them to justice.

He hoped that the strategy review of UNIFIL carried out by the U.N. would lead to the successful implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 that urges Israel to withdraw its forces from occupied Lebanese territories and end its violations of Lebanese airspace.

While recounting the achievements made by Premier Najib Miqati’s government so far such as the adoption of several bills, including on oil exploration, he stressed that Lebanon has always committed itself to the implementation of international resolutions including the one that established the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

The president told the diplomats stationed in Beirut that the international community should double efforts to achieve a peaceful solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict based on international resolutions.

“A fair democracy calls for the establishment of a free Palestinian state,” he said.

He reiterated Lebanon’s rejection to naturalize the Palestinians. “It’s their legal right to return to their homeland.”

“Lebanon has made stronger efforts to improve the humanitarian conditions of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon,” the president said but stressed that it was the international community’s duty to increase its funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

Suleiman also hoped that Iraq would enjoy unity and stability.