Khoury Stresses Importance of Dialogue, Says Suleiman's Invitation Open-Ended

Caretaker Environment Minister Nazem al-Khoury said on Friday that President Michel Suleiman didn't set the date of the national dialogue session, stressing that his invitation is open-ended.

Al-Khoury told al-Joumhouria newspaper that the only way to resolve the country's crises and ease the tension is by resuming the dialogue.

“The problem today is that no one wants to meet the other,” the caretaker minister said.

He warned that the demise of the state is inevitable as long as vacuum at institutions remains.

“We will stay in a viscous circle until we reach dialogue,” al-Khoury said.

He considered that Suleiman is exerting effort to convince the rival parties to meet.

“The national dialogue isn't an option, it's a national responsibility,” the caretaker minister added.

He rebuffed the precondition set by the March 8 and 14 coalition, saying: “We have to prevent the country from falling into a disaster.”

On Tuesday, Suleiman said 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.

He reiterated at an Iftar banquet in Baabda Palace calls for abiding by the Baabda Declaration, urging factions to commit to it “in words and in deeds.”

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 last round of national dialogue was held on September 20 at the Baabda Palace.