BEIRUT: President Michel Sleiman reiterated Monday Lebanon’s commitment to honor its obligations to the U.N.-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon, including its funding.
Addressing the nation on the eve of the 68th anniversary of Lebanon’s independence from France, Sleiman called on the Lebanese to maintain national unity and civil peace.
“We are not to delay the implementation of what we have already agreed upon in the national dialogue conference, especially in terms of the disarmament of the Palestinians outside the camps and addressing the Palestinian arms and security inside the camps in order to consolidate the country’s sovereignty, independence and stability,” Sleiman said. “This is in addition to our obligation to abide by the resolutions of the international legitimacy, including that pertaining to the Special International Tribunal for Lebanon, and that to attain justice and the ultimate truth, and preserve our credibility.”
His speech came as Prime Minister Najib Mikati was pressing the Cabinet to take a decision on the divisive issue of paying Lebanon’s share to the STL’s budget ahead of a Dec. 15 deadline.
Sleiman urged the Lebanese to uphold the Lebanese national constants that guarantee Lebanon’s stability, glory and prosperity.
“I call upon you to dissociate yourselves from whatever would adversely affect our national unity, civil peace and your legitimate dreams of a peaceful, secure and promising future, and commit at all times to the approach of dialogue, reason and moderation,” he said.
“Yes for independence. Yes for coexistence. Yes for freedom and social justice.
“Yes for an enlightened Arabism, open to modernity and democracy and human rights. Yes for a uniting, just and capable state and yes for Lebanon,” Sleiman said
He told the Lebanese the most important prerequisites of independence are liberation from any occupation or mandate and exercising state authority over all the country’s territories.
“Among the most important prerequisites of independence include: liberation from any occupation or mandate or trusteeship; exercising the full and exclusive sovereignty of the state and its institutions over all its territories; committing to the independence of the national political decision, away from any interference or external pressure; the state’s success in the administration of the public affairs with its own capabilities,” said Sleiman whose speech was relayed live by all local TV stations.
“Independence necessitates as well achieving social justice, economic growth and sustainable human development, fighting poverty, destitution and diseases, and providing the citizens’ basic needs,” he said.
Unlike his predecessors, Sleiman addressed the Lebanese from the town of Rashaya, in southeast Lebanon, where Lebanon’s early national leaders were imprisoned by French Mandate authorities during their struggle for independence.
The unprecedented symbolic move was aimed at reviving the memory of the Lebanese to the significance of the event. “This year, I address you from Rashaya, the Independence Castle, to revive the memories of the uniting national will that made independence come true and the consensual pact principles without which it could not have blossomed neither thrived,” Sleiman told an audience of Lebanese officials, including the town’s lawmakers assembled at the Rashaya Castle’s hall of honor.
The town’s roads were decorated with Lebanese flags and banners welcoming the president. Children waving Lebanese flags were on hand to greet Sleiman upon his arrival in the town.
Sleiman highlighted the role of the army and resistant people in confronting Israeli threats, saying: “While Israel still occupies a part of our territories in the Shebaa Farms, the hills of Kfar Shuba and the northern part of Al- Ghajar village and persists in its violations and threats, all parties are aware of the importance of unifying our overall resistance and deterrence national capabilities.”
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