Suleiman: Army and Resistance have dealt both seriously and pragmatically with helicopter incident
Source: Daily Star, 4-9-2008
BEIRUT: President Michel Suleiman said on Wednesday that achieving national unity in Lebanon required reconciliation and true dialogue between the Lebanese. "There will be no reconciliation without dialogue and no dialogue without reconciliation," Suleiman told a delegation from the Lebanese Press Federation which visited him at the Presidential Palace.
Suleiman stressed that the state was responsible for providing its people with the basics.
"Bread and security are extremely important for all the Lebanese ... The government is responsible for providing both services ... All future efforts will be focused on carrying out this responsibility," he said.
Commenting on the recent helicopter shooting which led to the death of First Lieutenant Samer Hanna, Suleiman said that the military and the resistance have dealt both seriously and pragmatically with the unfortunate incident.
"There are no malicious intentions," he said. "Judicial authorities are investigation the issue and will take the necessary measures."
Hanna's helicopter was targeted by Hizbullah gunfire in the Southern Sojod Hills. Hizbullah handed over the assailant and said that the Lebanese helicopter was mistaken for an "Israeli" one.
Suleiman, commenting on calls to add more participants to national dialogue sessions, said it was up to members of the previous dialogue conference to agree on this topic.
The president will chair national dialogue sessions at the palace, but no date has been set.
The president also confirmed that he would visit the United States in mid-September for talks with his US counterpart, George W. Bush.
Suleiman ended a visit to Qatar late Tuesday amid news reports that said he was planning to visit Saudi Arabia in October.
Doha was Suleiman's third foreign destination since his election on May 25.
He earlier visited France to take part in the Mediterranean Union summit before heading to Damascus for the purpose of agreeing with his Syrian counterpart, Bashar Assad, on establishing diplomatic relations.
Speaking to the press, Suleiman said that relations between Beirut and Damascus should be "based on honesty."
"The two states should openly speak to each other ... Lebanon and Syria will not be at odds if bilateral relations between them are based on honesty," he said.
Suleiman also played down fears that next year's parliamentary elections will not take place on time.
"As for the new electoral law, I hope we arrive at the best possible law after introducing some reforms," he said. "The new law might not meet the aspirations of the Lebanese, but the fact that it was agreed on by consensus makes it more acceptable to everybody."
Rival Lebanese leaders agreed in Doha last May to adopt an amended version of the 1960 electoral law for the 2009 legislative elections.
The new formula is expected to be ratified by Parliament on September 25 after introducing some reforms. The reforms, among which are lowering the voting age form 21 to 18 and allowing emigrants to vote, are being studied by the legislature's Administration and Justice Committee.
MP Robert Ghanem, who chairs the committee, said on Wednesday that the panel was aiming at finishing its work before September 20.
BEIRUT: President Michel Suleiman said on Wednesday that achieving national unity in Lebanon required reconciliation and true dialogue between the Lebanese. "There will be no reconciliation without dialogue and no dialogue without reconciliation," Suleiman told a delegation from the Lebanese Press Federation which visited him at the Presidential Palace.
Suleiman stressed that the state was responsible for providing its people with the basics.
"Bread and security are extremely important for all the Lebanese ... The government is responsible for providing both services ... All future efforts will be focused on carrying out this responsibility," he said.
Commenting on the recent helicopter shooting which led to the death of First Lieutenant Samer Hanna, Suleiman said that the military and the resistance have dealt both seriously and pragmatically with the unfortunate incident.
"There are no malicious intentions," he said. "Judicial authorities are investigation the issue and will take the necessary measures."
Hanna's helicopter was targeted by Hizbullah gunfire in the Southern Sojod Hills. Hizbullah handed over the assailant and said that the Lebanese helicopter was mistaken for an "Israeli" one.
Suleiman, commenting on calls to add more participants to national dialogue sessions, said it was up to members of the previous dialogue conference to agree on this topic.
The president will chair national dialogue sessions at the palace, but no date has been set.
The president also confirmed that he would visit the United States in mid-September for talks with his US counterpart, George W. Bush.
Suleiman ended a visit to Qatar late Tuesday amid news reports that said he was planning to visit Saudi Arabia in October.
Doha was Suleiman's third foreign destination since his election on May 25.
He earlier visited France to take part in the Mediterranean Union summit before heading to Damascus for the purpose of agreeing with his Syrian counterpart, Bashar Assad, on establishing diplomatic relations.
Speaking to the press, Suleiman said that relations between Beirut and Damascus should be "based on honesty."
"The two states should openly speak to each other ... Lebanon and Syria will not be at odds if bilateral relations between them are based on honesty," he said.
Suleiman also played down fears that next year's parliamentary elections will not take place on time.
"As for the new electoral law, I hope we arrive at the best possible law after introducing some reforms," he said. "The new law might not meet the aspirations of the Lebanese, but the fact that it was agreed on by consensus makes it more acceptable to everybody."
Rival Lebanese leaders agreed in Doha last May to adopt an amended version of the 1960 electoral law for the 2009 legislative elections.
The new formula is expected to be ratified by Parliament on September 25 after introducing some reforms. The reforms, among which are lowering the voting age form 21 to 18 and allowing emigrants to vote, are being studied by the legislature's Administration and Justice Committee.
MP Robert Ghanem, who chairs the committee, said on Wednesday that the panel was aiming at finishing its work before September 20.
