Prime Minister Najib Miqati stated on Sunday that the United Nations will be the primary sanctuary for people seeking peace, security, freedom, and democracy.

He said during a conference on “Reform and Transition to Democracy” at the Phoenicia Hotel: “We hope the United Nations will be more just in issuing resolutions and implementing them.

Former Prime Minister Fouad Saniora suggested to visiting United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon that the international organization demarcate Lebanon’s maritime border, reported the daily An Nahar on Sunday.

He proposed during their meeting on Saturday that the U.N. also determine Lebanon’s Exclusive Economic Zone, which would enable the country to exercise its rights to exploit the natural resources in the area.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati is expected to travel to France in February at the invitation of his French counterpart Francois Fillon, reported the daily al-Mustaqbal on Sunday.

Sources told the daily that the visit was scheduled for late January, but French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Premier Fillon, and Foreign Minister Alain Juppe’s busy schedule delayed the visit to February.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati stated on Saturday that the United Nations and international community’s support for Lebanon represent a central step in establishing peace and stability in the country.

He during a dinner thrown in visiting U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon’s honor: “We need the international community’s support in forcing Israel to halt its violations of Lebanon’s sovereignty and implement international resolutions.”

Hizbullah MP Mohammed Raad stressed on Saturday that any change in Syria should be made by the people without any foreign intervention.

Raad said after meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu that the two have different points of view over the developments in Syria.

U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Saturday met in Lebanon and discussed the "dangerous trajectory" of the crisis in Syria, Ban's spokesman said.

The U.N. secretary general and Turkish Minister are in Lebanon for a U.N. conference on democracy in the Arab world.

Gemayel Meets Ban, Says Lebanon’s Sovereignty over Shebaa Farms Key Element

Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel stressed on Saturday that the situation in the South is linked to Syria’s recognition of Lebanon's sovereignty over the Shebaa Farms.

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri slammed on Saturday any renewal of the national dialogue that doesn’t address the defense strategy, stressing that there will be no civil war in Lebanon.

Asked by a twitter user if the opposition will join any national dialogue if it didn’t discuss the national strategy, Hariri said “there’s no need.”

Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah stressed on Saturday that United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon’s concern about his party’s arms gives him comfort and happiness, vowing that the party will grow stronger.

“I felt happy when I heard that he (Ban) said he was concerned about our military power,” Nasrallah said in a televised speech during the commemoration of the Arbaeen in Baalbek.

A conference on democracy in the Arab world opens in Beirut on Sunday with U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon set to deliver the keynote address to a slew of dignitaries, many from countries that suffered under dictatorship.

"Current and former officials from a number of countries around the world will speak of their wonderful and rich experiences in their transition to democracy," said Maha Yahya, regional advisor for the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), which is organizing the meet.