No New Date Set for Next Dialogue Session Amid Calls for Calm
The seventh national dialogue session at Baabda palace was adjourned on Monday without setting a new date for the resumption of talks but the participants agreed to urge the Lebanese to exercise their voting rights and accept the results of the polls with calm.
Free Patriotic Movement leader Gen. Michel Aoun did not attend the all-party talks, the last before the elections. Sources said his absence is due to "the long day he had in Batroun" on Sunday and because Monday”s session would only call for calm rather than discussing any issue on the agenda.
MP Ghassan Tueni was also not present.
The leaders who attended the session called on the Lebanese to exercise their right and head to the polls on June 7 and to accept the results of the elections in a civilized manner.
The statement issued after the meeting also said that only security forces should solve security-related incidents. Dialogue participants reiterated their commitment to the "Pact of Honor" that they had reached on March 2, 2009.
Media reports had said President Michel Suleiman will urge the dialogue leaders to adopt calm political rhetoric and to make sure there is a peaceful atmosphere in the week before the elections.