Suleiman”s 2nd call in 48 Hours for Strengthening the State
President Michel Suleiman on Friday urged countries for the second time in 48 hours to deal with Lebanon through the state.
Suleiman said told a visitng a delegation from the "Coalition for a Stable Independence" from Zahle at Baabda Palace "Lebanon gains strength through its state."
He told his visitors not to despair, to move away from sectarian polarization and to work on fostering national unity and coexistence in the country.
President Michel Suleiman also received Interior Minister Ziad Baroud. Discussions centered on current developments related to the ministry.
On Thursday President Michel Suleiman urged Arab states to deal with Lebanon through its head of state who is "in charge of relations with other states."
Suleiman made the rather striking remark in an address to Arab ambassadors accredited to Berlin.
After emphasizing on Lebanon”s good relations with all Arab states, Suleiman told the Arab ambassadors: "We have groups and parties that have links to and relations with this state or that. This is a source of wealth.
"These friendships should be invested in the interest of entente and in the interest of Lebanon."
"We want the (Arab) states to deal with the state of Lebanon, specifically with the head of state, who is in charge of relations with other states," Suleiman stressed.
His remark coincided with a visit to Syria by Change and Reform Bloc leader Michel Aoun who was received by President Bashar Assad at his People”s Palace.
"This does not mean at all that states should not deal with friends, be they individuals or groups, but there is a level for dealing with the head of state and (another) level for dealing with others," Suleiman noted.
He said Lebanon”s relations with Syria have "been placed on the proper track … it is based on frankness between President Bashar Assad and myself."
Beirut and Damascus would exchange diplomatic missions and ambassadors before end of the year, Suleiman reiterated.
"This would be followed by steps topped by exchanging information on terror," he concluded.