Suleiman Seeks Launching National Dialogue to Fortify Lebanon
President Michel Suleiman stressed on Saturday that he will seek to launch a national dialogue with the Lebanese leaders to fortify Lebanon.
“We will seek to launch the national dialogue to agree on the defense strategy, especially when the Israeli threats should make us more determined,” Suleiman said during a banquet in honor of Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi.
He said that “the past years showed that the constitutional gaps are serious which halted the president from settling issues.”
The president urged the Lebanese leaders to launch a national dialogue “to implement the national charter.”
“The people got tired of the local strife and aspire to build the state institutions,” Suleiman said.
He addressed patriarch al-Rahi saying: “Since day one you have worked on gathering the Maronite leaders and called for an Islamic-Christian summit to implement dialogue and co-existence.”
Suleiman remarked that during the past few years “We were able to achieve stability… And committed ourselves to the democratic principle of rotating power.”
“However, we didn’t forget to seek the social justice,” he stressed.
The president congratulated al-Rahi on his “high apostolic determination,” thanking Cardinal Leonardo Sandri for his participation in the banquet.
Meanwhile, Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi urged the president, Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Najib Miqati to go forward in their partnership.
Rahi said “you cover up faults with love and highlight the positive issues. You forgive who abuses you and take the initiative with generosity.”
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