Suleiman Hopes Aid Pledges to Syrians would be Translated into Deeds

President Michel Suleiman hoped on Thursday that the promises of the international community to help Lebanon meet the demands of Syrian refugees escaping the fighting in their country would be translated into deeds.

“We received signals that there is a certain support … But previous experiences haven't been very encouraging,” Suleiman told a delegation from the Association of Arab Newspaper Reporters in Lebanon.

Suleiman hoped that his good ties with all Arab countries, mainly in the Gulf, would lead to “prioritizing” Lebanon in the pledges made at the one-day donor conference in Kuwait on Wednesday.

International donors pledged more than the targeted $1.5 billion in aid for stricken Syrians, U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday.

Suleiman and King Abdullah II of Jordan both called at the conference for more aid to cope with increasing numbers of Syrian refugees in their respective countries.

Asked about reports that he has distanced himself from Syrian President Bashar Assad, Suleiman said: “I never use that word,” adding he has asked for keeping Lebanon “neutral” from the repercussions of the crises in the region.

Suleiman also talked with the delegation about the controversial electoral draft-law and reiterated his rejection of the so-called Orthodox Gathering proposal which calls for a single district and allows each sect to vote for its own lawmakers in a proportional representation system.

“I will not be the only one appealing it to the Constitutional Council,” if adopted, he said.

“This proposal leads to the worst divisions” among different factions, he told the delegation.

Lebanon's four Christian parties – the Free Patriotic Movement, the Lebanese Forces, the Phalange and Marada – have announced their support for the proposal despite criticism by Suleiman, Prime Minister Najib Miqati, the opposition al-Mustaqbal movement, the Progressive Socialist Party and several March 14 independent Christian politicians.

Several other suggestions have been made, including a hybrid draft-law that combines the proportional and winner-takes-all systems, to govern this year's parliamentary elections.

Suleiman warned that any failure to agree on a law would mean that the Lebanese lack patriotism.

“It would be shameful,” he said. But assured that the elections would be held on time.