Suleiman Continues Efforts to Hold National Dialogue on Time

President Michel Suleiman is continuing his consultations to resume the national dialogue on August 16 as he is seeking to ensure that all participants are present at the all-party talks, reported the daily al-Mustaqbal on Sunday.

Sources close to the president highlighted the need to resume the talks amid the critical local and regional situation.

They stressed that he will not back down from his demand to continue the talks.

Meanwhile, prominent March 14 political sources ruled out the possibility that the dialogue will be held on time “because the consultations would not have been ripe prior to the date.”

It is likely therefore that the national dialogue would be postponed again.

The all-party talks were initially postponed over the March 14 camp’s decision to boycott the meeting over the failure to hand over telecom data to the security forces and the failure to tackle Hizbullah’s possession of arms.

The telecom data has since been handed to security forces.

The sources revealed that Suleiman’s consultations are focusing on the fact that the defense strategy for Lebanon is more important than the telecom data issue.

The security situation in Lebanon has also been at the heart of his efforts to resume the national dialogue, they added.

They explained that the March 14 forces want to make certain that all sides are approaching the talks seriously, which would be demonstrated in launching discussions on the defense strategy and possession of arms outside the authority of the state.

They highlighted Suleiman’s recent speech on Army Day during which he stated that there can be “no partnership with the army in its mission in maintaining security and defending Lebanon’s sovereignty”.

The sources interpreted the statement as a need to limit the possession of arms in Lebanon to state authorities as stipulated by the Taef Accord.

They added that the March 14 forces are awaiting Hizbullah’s “clear and honest reaction” to the president’s remarks.