Suleiman Defends Speech, Aims at Neutralizing Lebanon from Regional Conflict
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
President Michel Suleiman's speech marking Lebanon's 68th Army Day didn't highlight any new stance and will only press foreign countries to neutralize the country from the ongoing turmoil in the region, Baabda Palace sources said on Friday.
“They are the same old stances that he has reiterated on different occasions,” sources close to him said in comments published in al-Joumhouria newspaper.
The speech “might have included a clearer and stronger rhetoric but an occasion like that requires such statements... The Lebanese deserve to know these facts and if they would've listened before the situation would've been better locally,” the sources pointed out.
The sources stated that the president had previously urged Hizbullah to end its military intervention in Syria, in particular, after al-Qusayr battles.
Syrian government troops are backed by Hizbullah members in their fight against rebels seeking to topple President Bashar Assad.
Hizbullah has played a major role in a battle last month in the town of al-Qusayr, which is near Lebanon's northeastern border, and lost scores of men there.
The sources noted that Suleiman's stances will safeguard the country and press the Arab countries and the west to neutralize it from the ongoing turmoil in the region.
The president lashed out during his speech on Thursday at the military interventions in Syria, without naming any side, saying the blood of Lebanese should not be sacrificed to serve the interests of other countries.
“The army's role would be difficult if a party or more get involved in conflicts outside Lebanon,” he said.
Suleiman called for a review of the national defense strategy in light of Hizbullah’s involvement in Syria, while stressing the state should enjoy a monopoly over the use of military force to defend Lebanon’s sovereignty.
But Suleiman said that “true martyrdom is only in the defense of the nation … The Lebanese people want sacrifices for Lebanon.”
02 August 2013, 09:11
02
Ne7na ma3ak Mr President ... The best post-war president, and possibly among the best in the history of Lebanon ...
02 August 2013, 10:02
12
The President said what every true Lebanese thinks and says on a daily basis: all weapons under the state.
but for the terrorist Iranian militia this is not an acceptable alternative! thus they shoot rockets at the army and the Presidency.
this is the worst that can ever happen to our country: a filthy Iranian terrorist militia dictating its wishes on the Lebanese people.
they are confirming once more that they represent an invading force following a foreign country.
how are they different from the Israelis?
02 August 2013, 11:46
01
Well said wolf. There is nothing he said that needs defending. All true Lebanese support every word he said. Let us empower the army. Let them and the elected govt of Lebanon be the sole decision makers in this country. One of the most patriotic speeches I have heard and I pray every word he said comes true and that ALL arms, except the army's, are confiscated.
02 August 2013, 12:50
10
Like you believed in the Bash, minibash? I am sure that without your "silly" Taef and Doha constitution the one you believe in now would probably... well... umm... duh... never have been. Say hi to the Bash in Israel for me, minibash, and keep those arms crossed while Dr. Arreet 7akeh, the Grand Doc of Bull, continues art everything, SIR.
02 August 2013, 13:25
00
To use Hizb's own words against them, "înnahom sharr mutlaq, ghidda sarataniya yajibu îqla3iha min jouthouraha". Hayhat, faînna Hizb-Îran humm al-thoulla!
02 August 2013, 13:38
01
There are only two types of Lebanese. Those who know that Hizbollah is a criminal organization poison to freedom and democracy and admit it and those who know that Hizbollah is a criminal organization poison to freedom and democracy and sell their soul to benefit from it. The second group is worse than Hizbollah because they are the cancer Lebanon suffers from. No one is hurt by Hizbollah more than the Shia community. Their impact on Lebanese economy is losses in the hundreds of billions. They nurtured extremism in all communities and disfigured for ever Lebanon's role as cradle of freedom and democracy and the natural guiding light to an Arab Spring in disarray
02 August 2013, 15:00
00
How about replying instead of your typical art 7akeh? You can't help that, minibash, huh!
