Suleiman Says May Call for Dialogue Soon, Proposes Amending the Constitution
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
President Michel Suleiman said on Tuesday that he hopes he will be able to call for a national dialogue session “soon” to discuss the defense strategy and find solutions to the current political crises.
“Launching serious and all-encompassing dialogue sessions and supporting the state are among the Lebanese people's goals. This dream can come true if wills and capabilities were united,” Suleiman said at an Iftar banquet in Baabda Palace.
The Iftar was attended by Speaker Nabih Berri, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati and premier-designate Tamam Salam, in addition to several political and religious figures.
Suleiman reiterated calls for abiding by the Baabda Declaration, urging factions to commit to it “in words and in deeds.”
He noted that the international community “keeps voicing support for the declaration.”
“Could the United Nations Security Council's member states be more keen on the Lebanese people's security and safety than the Lebanese themselves?” he asked.
“We agreed in the Baabda Declaration on disassociating Lebanon from regional events, and preventing the transfer of weapons through the country to Syria and on continuing the discussion on the defense strategy,” Suleiman pointed out.
He asked: “Who put Lebanese factions in a confrontation with each others and used expressions of treason in the political speech, and overthrew the parliamentary elections and allowed the involvement in military activities on the border?'
"Each one must consider the dangers of their actions before it is too late.”
The Baabda Declaration was unanimously adopted during a national dialogue session in June 2012. It calls for Lebanon to disassociate itself from regional crises, most notably the one in Syria.
The president announced that he will come forward with a suggestion for discussion to amend some articles of the constitution.
He explained: “The problems that accompanied the work of the Constitutional Council show the need to revise the law that tackles the council's formation, regarding the distribution of its members and the authorities of the legislative and executive powers.”
He added that the “first sign of reform is an electoral law that allows for questioning.”
“It is the responsibility of the parliament to produce this kind of an electoral law,” he said.
Suleiman called for showing “unconditional support to the army that has given many martyrs for the country's sake.”
He continued: “We must support the military institution so that it could impose security, protect civil peace and confront the enemy.”
He also urged political factions “to be responsible and facilitate the premier-designate's mission and trust him.”
“There are no alternatives to forming a national unity cabinet.”
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16 July 2013, 21:08
Suleiman: Launching serious and all-encompassing dialogue sessions and supporting the state are among the Lebanese people's goals.
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16 July 2013, 21:07
Suleiman: I hope I will be able to call for resuming the national dialogue sessions soon, to discuss a defense strategy that protects Lebanon and to look into solutions for the current crises.
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16 July 2013, 21:06
Suleiman: The problems that accompanied the work of the Constitutional Council show the need to revise the law that tackles the council's formation, regarding the distribution of its members and the authorities of the legislative and executive powers.
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16 July 2013, 21:05
Suleiman: The first sign of reform is an electoral law that allows for questioning. It is the responsibility of the parliament to produce this kind of an electoral law.
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16 July 2013, 21:04
Suleiman: I call on everyone to be responsible and facilitate the premier-designate's mission and trust him. There are no alternatives to forming a national unity cabinet.
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16 July 2013, 21:03
Suleiman: I will soon propose a suggestion for discussion to amend some articles of the constitution based on dividing responsibilities instead of fighting over powers.
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16 July 2013, 21:02
Suleiman: We must all show unconditional support to the army that has given many martyrs for the country's sake.
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16 July 2013, 21:02
Suleiman: We should follow-up on the plan that deals with the refugees' problems. We must also support the military institution so that it could impose security, protect civil peace and confront the enemy.
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16 July 2013, 21:01
Suleiman called for committing in words and in actions to the Baabda Declaration: Impasses should not lead to paralysis in the political life and disrupt the work of public institutions.
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16 July 2013, 21:00
Suleiman: The international community keeps voicing support for the Baabda Declaration. Could the U.N. Security Council's member states be more keen on the Lebanese people's security and safety than the Lebanese themselves?
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16 July 2013, 21:00
Suleiman: Each one must consider the dangers of his actions before it is too late.
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16 July 2013, 20:59
Suleiman: Who put Lebanese factions in a confrontation with each others and used expressions of treason in the political speech, and overthrew the parliamentary elections and allowed the involvement in military activities on the border?
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16 July 2013, 20:59
Suleiman: We agreed in the Baabda Declaration on disassociating Lebanon from regional events, and preventing the transfer of weapons through the country to Syria and on continuing the discussion on the defense strategy.
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16 July 2013, 20:58
President Michel Suleiman in a Speech during an Iftar at Baabda Palace: The stability projected during Pope Benedict's visit to Lebanon could overcome feuds if we set our minds on it.
16 July 2013, 21:15
13
Thank you President Suleiman for exonerating our Islamic secular resistance aka HA from putting the Lebanese factions in a confrontation with each other, and using expressions of treason in the political speech, and overthrowing the parliamentary elections and allowing the involvement in military activities on the border.
16 July 2013, 23:15
01
I would send the army to the borders. I would left the stupid political cover from the army. I would disarm the thugs in Tripoli and Sidon. I would move on with the new prime minister to form a technocrat government to work for the people. I will weigh on things to make it happen, not just make a speech after speech. I would demand immediate discussing with Hizbullah to give up their arms... This will not be allowed to be postponed any longer. Look no one said the president’s job is easy, but if he can’t do it, then he needs to get the hell out…
If it is going to take war for this to happen, then let it be… We are not going to get out of this situation by making speech after speech. Look during the U.S. civil war, which it was the bloodiest civil war ever, the only way that it was over is when the South got beaten and they had no choice but to surrender. If it wasn’t for this, the civil war would still be happening to this day in the U.S…. Sometimes my friend war is the answer.
17 July 2013, 00:50
01
We agreed in the Baabda Declaration on disassociating Lebanon from regional events, and preventing the transfer of weapons through the country to Syria and on continuing the discussion on the defense strategy,” Suleiman pointed out...............
Not good enough Mr. President. You need to ban movement of arms and fighters (not just weapons). You need to prevent transfer of weapons both ways (not just to Syria, but also from Syria). And none of this can be done with dialogue, only by getting the army what it needs for the job and then issuing the order.
17 July 2013, 04:28
11
Ya khayeh OK fhemna we need dialogue. I agree full heartedly but how can you have a dialogue with a man pointing a gun at your head? How can you have a dialogue when you can't even come to the country to attend this conference without risking your life and being blown to pieces?
