Suleiman in Sharm el-Sheikh: Lebanon Has the Right to Defend Itself against Israel
President Michel Suleiman asked the Non-Aligned Movement summit Wednesday to ensure that Lebanon maintains its right to defend itself against Israeli threats and liberate its land using "all legitimate and available means."
More than 50 heads of state from the developing world met Wednesday in Sham el-Sheikh to tackle the fallout from the global economic meltdown.
Suleiman in a speech at the opening session – attended by U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon – slammed Israel”s daily violations of Lebanese territorial sovereignty and "its aggressive espionage acts in breach of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701."
He condemned Israel”s "rejection" of the Palestinian refugees” right to return to their homeland and attempts for their naturalization.
"Lebanon presented this summit with specific demands for the full and unconditional implementation of Resolution 1701, for the rejection of any form of Palestinian naturalization and for the preservation of (Lebanon”s) right to defend itself and liberate its land by all legitimate and available means," he said.
The Lebanese leader renewed his country”s commitment to "NAM”s founding principles … and to its decisions in the service of the cause of a just and comprehensive peace."
Suleiman stressed the need for more investments in NAM states, measures to boost small and medium-size businesses and to consolidate cooperation between the private and public sectors.
He said that "investments cannot be attracted without actual internal and external stability.
"Internal stability is impossible without enabling the people to express their choices and aspiration in a democratic and free manner," he stressed.
Suleiman said Lebanon has carried out measures to ensure stability and security across its territories by "consolidating the principle of dialogue and consensus as a means to settle disputes and by holding successful parliamentary polls."
"Lebanon was also able to avoid the repercussions on its economy of the global financial crisis by implementing a wise and pre-emptive policy in its banking sector," he added.
On the external front, he said Lebanon remains under "repeated Israeli threats against its land, people, establishments and infrastructures."
He issued an urgent call for a conference to address the Arab-Israeli conflict in light of Israel”s continued rejection of "peace requirements and of the Palestinian people”s right to establish their independent state." Such a conference will seek to "boost the chances for a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East."
On the summit”s sidelines, Suleiman met Egyptian counterpart Hosni Mubarak, Ban, Arab League head Amr Moussa and several other leaders.