Suleiman Warns Against Chaos, Urges All Parties to Embrace Armed Forces

President Michel Suleiman urged on Monday all parties to embrace the Lebanese Armed Forces after he praised them in preserving security and preventing strife, and warned against chaos.

In a statement issued by Baabda palace, Suleiman “lauded the role of the military and security forces, mainly the army, in preserving security and civil peace, and preventing strife at these difficult circumstances in the region.”

He “appreciated the efforts they exerted in preserving security in the municipal by-elections that were held in some villages and towns, an indication that there is no alternative to legitimate security, which remains the only guarantee for the security of the nation and the citizen.”

Suleiman urged all parties to “embrace” the armed forces and avoid targeting them “because it is in everyone's interest without exception to stand by the state and particularly its security agencies,” said the statement.

He warned that not a single party would enjoy political or security backing if the country ends up in chaos.

The statement was issued after Suleiman headed a meeting during which he was briefed on the military assistance to Lebanon and the army's needs to allow it to implement its mission.

Also Monday, the president met with Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour who informed Suleiman that he received assurances from Bahraini authorities during his latest visit to Manama that the Gulf country will not take any measure against Lebanese expatriates there.

Relations between Bahrain and Lebanon were shaken last month when Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun criticized the international community for its stance on the unrest there.

But Suleiman and Prime Minister Najib Miqati were quick in disavowing his remarks and stressing that Lebanon holds onto its policy to distance itself from the region's crises.