Suleiman on Army Day: Dialogue Aimed at Avoiding Future Conflicts

by Naharnet Newsdesk over 13 years

Timeline

Suleiman: We should work on drawing and protecting our maritime borders. over 13 years

Suleiman: We stress on our right to regain control of all our territories through legal means. over 13 years

Suleiman: We confirm our full commitment to resolution 1701. We condemn the attack on UNIFIL and stress to find the culprits and prosecute them. over 13 years

Suleiman: The democratic system and rotation of power ends excuses for violence. There is a need for a balanced representation through the adoption of a new, modern and just electoral law. Proportionality is an option that could be adopted by all Lebanese. over 13 years

Suleiman: The Lebanese people reject strife and internal fighting. over 13 years

Suleiman: The national dialogue not only seeks to solve lingering differences but to avoid clashes and safeguard stability. over 13 years

Suleiman: The army preserved the freedom of demonstration and expression, confronted Israel in 2006, and battled terrorism during the Nahr al-Bared clashes. over 13 years

Politicians should adopt a calm rhetoric, Suleiman said. over 13 years

Suleiman: Israel tried again this morning to renew its aggression in the south and the army confronted it. over 13 years

Suleiman began addressing the graduates. over 13 years

Suleiman began awarding the graduating officers their swords. over 13 years

Army helicopters carrying the Lebanese and army flags flew over the area of Army Day celebrations. over 13 years

President Michel Suleiman arrived at the Barracks. over 13 years

Suleiman laid a wreath at the monument of army martyrs. over 13 years

Speaker Nabih Berri arrived at the Barracks a few minutes after the arrival of PM Najib Miqati. over 13 years

Lebanon celebrated Army Day on Monday as President Michel Suleiman stressed on the importance of national dialogue and the adoption of an electoral law based on proportional representation.

The Army Day celebration took place at the Shukri Ghanem barracks in Fayyadiyeh and was attended by Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Najib Miqati and other high ranking officials led by Army Commander Gen. Jean Qahwaji.

National “dialogue is not only aimed at solving lingering issues but also avoiding future conflicts and safeguarding stability,” said Suleiman about his invitation for all-party talks.

Suleiman said a democratic system and rotation of power end excuses for violence. “There is a need for a balanced representation through the adoption of a new, modern and just electoral law.”

“Proportionality is an option that could receive the consensus of all Lebanese,” he told graduating officers, their families and the top officials attending the ceremony.

On the 66th anniversary of the military, he hailed the army for preserving the freedom of demonstration and expression, confronting Israel during the 2006 war, and battling terrorism in the clashes with Fatah al-Islam militants in the Palestinian refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared in 2007.

Referring to the clash between the Lebanese and Israeli troops in the area of Wazzani on Monday, he lauded the Lebanese army for confronting the Jewish state.

He confirmed his full commitment to U.N. Security Council resolution 1701 and condemned the attack on a UNIFIL patrol near Sidon. He stressed that Lebanese authorities would find the culprits and bring them to justice.

Suleiman also stressed on Lebanon’s right to regain control of all its Israeli occupied territories through legal means.

On the latest conflict with Israel over the oil and gas resources and their maritime borders, the president said: “We should work on demarcating and protection our maritime borders and preserving our rights in our territorial waters.”

Comments 8

Le Phenicien (Guest) over 13 years

What for a dialogue Mr President ! What we need is a national reconciliation , not a " dialogue de sourds "

fadi (Guest) over 13 years

Couldn't agree more dude.

Truth (Guest) over 13 years

Daer President. Pialrament and PROPER functioning of state institutions are the places to discuss political issues, not ahwit el kazzaz! Dialogue for what? With whom? Your friend cheats you once it' s his fault, twice, it' s yours. Is M14 going to sit with rebellious militamen accused of serial killing, and holding hostage the whole political class with their weapons? Pointless! The only place they should dialogue is before a proper court, the STL, dialogue with a judge, who wil put them back where they belong to. Dialogue with those who are showing the highest contempt for the state as they are deemed to protect the governemental offices they run! The president has been turned by them arms to something tantamont to the Queen of England, and the army, to standstill watchers, unable to fulfill its role, unless it clashes with the Hizb militia, let alone that it has been infiltrated, where it matters (operationally and geographically) by those thugs. What is the dialogue for then. Then?

Truth (Guest) over 13 years

The only dialogue will start, when we' ll be in a positin to hold this armed this armed gang responsible for all what they' ve done and disarm them. It is no doubt unrealistic for the moment, but time is on M14 side this time round. They can only wait to see. First price will go to Syria. The Hizb wll have to content with second price!.

Muhamad (Guest) over 13 years

Mr. President,
There is no celebration in Lebanon until all war criminals brought to justice, because the Lebanese people are not convinced of any change, especially the case of Karam disapearance in Amchite, people in Amchite wants to know what happened to Karam case and who killed, if Geagea is responsible or not, justice is needed in your hometown first.

ALi (Guest) over 13 years

Did dialogue in the past, 2006 and onwards, prevent conflict from spilling onto the streets? Dialogue outside state institutions such as parliament is a farce. Do you see dialogue in any country conducted over dinner outside state institutions and by people other than those elected by their people? These thugs want dialogue to cast legitimacy over their actions. Mr. President: we don't want a shiite, Sunni, or Christian fanatic group of thugs to defend us. It is your duty and the duty of the army and security agencies that cost this country a fortune to defend us. Being in the army is not just a privilege but a responsibility.

may 7 (Guest) over 13 years

were was the army on may 7 ?????????????????

Youssef Haddad (Guest) over 13 years

Dialogue happens between entities who share the same objectives but disagree on the means.
What common objectives do we share with Hezbollah, its complete subjugation to "Alwaly al faqeeh or its totalitarian sectarian ideology? Hezbollah is an Iranian Islamic republic intrusion in our midst and it should be extracted.