President Michel Suleiman, during Army Day celebrations on Friday, urged the army to confront "violators" to avoid civil strife and stressed the need to safeguard the military”s unity.
"Do not hesitate to curb violators no matter what their affiliations are," Suleiman told graduating cadets at the Military Academy in Fayadieh.
"Isn”t it a duty to confront anyone who shoots" at his compatriot? Suleiman asked.
Premier Fouad Saniora, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and other officials attended the celebration of the 63rd anniversary of the military institution”s establishment.
"Lebanon suffered a great deal to fight terror and it needs its army”s sacrifices," the president said, stressing that Lebanon”s strength comes from the army”s unity.
Your duty "goes beyond politics and confessionalism. Maintaining security is your duty, which requires sacrifices," Suleiman told the graduating class, which he named after Brigadier General Francois al-Hajj, who was killed in a bombing.
Suleiman also named the 2007 graduation class the "Class of United National Will."
In his speech, the president called for unifying the army”s ranks, ending internal discord and avoiding corruption to build a capable state.
Regarding Shebaa, Suleiman said Lebanon had now to deal with the issue of the farms and Kfarshouba hills after the return of Lebanese prisoners from Israel in a swap deal between the Jewish state and Hizbullah last month.
Suleiman also called for the full implementation of the Taef Accord to bolster political and state institutions.
Picture: Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, Center, reviews an honor guard at a military graduation ceremony marking the 63rd army”s day at a military baracks in Beirut”s suburb of Fayadiyeh, Lebanon, Friday, Aug. 1, 2008.
(AP Photo/Mahmoud Tawil)