Suleiman Calls for Disassociating Lebanon from Regional Interests, Urges Dialogue 'without Preconditions'
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
President Michel Suleiman urged Saturday disassociating Lebanon from regional interests, calling also for the formation of a new cabinet and the resumption of national dialogue sessions.
"Amid all the dangers threatening the country, I call on all factions without any exception to disassociate Lebanon from regional interests,” Suleiman said in a televised speech on Saturday night.
“I urge putting national interests first,” he added.
“We demand transcending international considerations to avoid losing the opportunity of peace and stability in the country.”
The president's statement comes one day after two deadly explosions rocked the northern city of Tripoli, killing at least 45 people and wounding 900 others.
Suleiman considered that forming a new cabinet and taking part in national dialogue sessions “would prevent divisions and fighting in the country.”
"Participation in national dialogue should be done without any previously set conditions,” he remarked.
He also urged political and religious figures in the country to adopt a "moderate" approach in their speeches.
"They must all go back to adopting and abiding by the Baabda Declaration, to secure the higher national interest and to be in harmony with the stance of the majority of the Lebanese.”
The head of the state ordered military and security authorities to "maximize the level of alert."
"These bodies should pursue criminals and terrorists that are threatening the security and the safety of the Lebanese,” he elaborated.
Addressing the Lebanese, Suleiman said they should “preserve their unity and solidarity.”
"We also call on the citizens to cooperate with security bodies and to report any suspicious activities that might threaten public safety,” he added.
Suleiman ended his speech warning against the country turning into a “prey in the international game.”
"The collapse of Lebanon terminates the idea of religious coexistence between different sects and threatens the presence of diversity.”
Prior to his speech, Suleiman had discussed the latest security developments in the country with caretaker premier Najib Miqati, caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel and several security officials.
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24 August 2013, 20:17
President Michel Suleiman demanded transcending international considerations.
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24 August 2013, 20:17
Suleiman: I urge forming a cabinet and I call on political leaders to take part in national dialogue without previously set conditions.
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24 August 2013, 20:16
Suleiman: I call for taking a national decision to disassociate Lebanon from regional interests and put the country's interests first.
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24 August 2013, 20:16
Suleiman urged media outlets to assume their responsibility and face the current stage in Lebanon with courage.
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24 August 2013, 20:15
Suleiman: I call on the politicians to adopt an approach that calms the people and to abide by the Baabda Declaration.
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24 August 2013, 20:15
Suleiman: I call on the people to stay united and to cooperate with the security bodies and to report any suspicious activities that might threat public safety.
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24 August 2013, 20:14
Suleiman: I urge military bodies to increase their alert level and to be ready to pursue terrorists.
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24 August 2013, 20:13
President Michel Suleiman: We offer our condolences to the families of the victims in Tripoli's explosions and I call on the concerned bodies to help the wounded.
25 August 2013, 21:00
20
I respect your opinion BUT ....
We are used to words like "None" ... as you said, or "All are" .. " All of them are.. Mixing the good and the bad and confusing the poor normal people to understand who is the good and who is the bad .. or at least "who is the side that is doing the real damage?" .. I Say again with all respect, Hizebola is the biggest responsable helping the syrian Assad Caln to keep doing what they are good at since 40 years.
24 August 2013, 21:22
113
U should say bless our HA terrorists and their war against the brave syrian resistance.
May Allah bless and help any syrian fighter that risks his life to protect his family and loved ones, and not for money or political agenda.
Amin.
24 August 2013, 22:12
19
Jarba does not risk his life and neither does he protect his family nor loved ones in Syria (I assume the people),he goes from country to country and amasses a fortune while poor uneducated saps from outside Syria shed their blood for what? Freedom? They've massacred a countless number of people,abused many,cleansed ethnically. They're in my view no better than the regime. Even worse,at least minorities had rights and weren't executed for belonging to this or that sect. You think the Takfiri thread looming in the horizon is exaggerated or doesn't even exist at all,and it's just all oppression against the largest sect in the middle east,a war in which half of those dead are alawites alone. At least with Bachar weakened he can't threaten us if we put our heads together,takfiris on the other hand terrorize even the strongest of nations. Man please.
24 August 2013, 22:14
16
Mr. Yellow God Bless his Soul perfectly represents what these mercenaries are fighting against, human dignity. Watch this video if you dare: http://item.liveleak.com/2/view?i=e88_1363201280
24 August 2013, 22:19
18
Cedre, not every Syrian fighter is a noble man fighting for freedom, and you should not portray things in such a one dimensional manner. It doesn't matter if HA loses or rebels win when we're going to analyze its implications for Lebanon. So long as rebels will not (or cannot) separate themselves from very dangerous terrorist groups then they will have no legitimacy.
Mr. Yellow here who is most likely dead now represents what these mercenaries/non-native terrorists are fighting against, human dignity. Watch this video if you dare: http://item.liveleak.com/2/view?i=e88_1363201280
24 August 2013, 22:18
00
How can there be dialogue between two parties, one of them systematically killing members of the other, twisting every single rule of the game, at gunpoint, shielding behind a threat against the whole community in order to make the murder of a few , be it the most important politicians of the country, appear a marginal issue ! The effect of the socalled dialogue would be as follows:
- turning the criminal from an outlaw liable for the firing squad, into an inescapable legitimate player, whose crimes are implicitly laundered in the process!
- putting the prejudiced partner in front of two choices: either submission to the law and agenda of the armed bully , and/or face more of the same ie more physical elimination !
24 August 2013, 22:57
22
Some corrections are needed here:
"Patriotic-Khomeinist-Iranian"
Bless our filthy traitor occupying brainwashed militia against those who want to make Lebanon a free and sovereign country.
25 August 2013, 07:12
010
@the1phoenix
I hesitated a lot before penning this comment. Most of your comments are usually from the heart and express the pent up feelings of most Lebanese and they are a pleasure to read.
The above comment my friend does not measure up and I for one wished that you never penned it. No matter the provocation, and I know @banima3roof has intentionally provoked you on many occasions, you are much better than to stoop to his level.
As you would say, sorry bro but it pains me to read such comments from you.
25 August 2013, 11:19
09
Banthepoof ,
Go somewhere else ....
You are over stretching your Limits !
If you have a personality problem between deciding if your a female or male then it should be constrained .
Politics however should be treated differently , either decide for yourself what is your problem ? Internally or externally !
Once you have made that personal decision then you shall break off the psychological chains that are most disturbing to a majority of us Lebanese When you comment !
Signed Wolf !
25 August 2013, 14:22
010
I'm Druze and proud of it but I refuse to insult other religions because I know in every religion there are those that are good honest people and those that are true scum of the earth. EVERY RELIGION !
I currently live in Australia and all during the lebanon war my best friends were Lebanese Muslims, Christians and Druze.
We protected each other from the radical white racists of Australia and never cared what religion the other was.
26 August 2013, 15:24
00
@the1phoenix
Only real men apologies when apology is warranted and you have shown you are one. I understand your reasons and I hope you keep posting here because your comments do make a difference. Water under the bridge my friend. You are one of the few posters that make sense.
