Suleiman to Judges: It”s your Responsibility to Restore Confidence in Judiciary
President Michel Suleiman told Lebanese judges on Thursday that it was their responsibility to restore public confidence in the judicial system.
"If it is the state”s responsibility to come up with a future plan for the judiciary in Lebanon, it is also your responsibility to restore public confidence in it," Suleiman told judges during a ceremony at the Justice Palace to celebrate the opening of the judicial year.
The ceremony was attended by Speaker Nabih Berri, Caretaker PM Fouad Saniora and other top officials.
Suleiman called for supporting the judicial system”s reform. "The right thing to do is to support the judiciary and its reform. It would be wrong to defame it for our (personal) reasons."
"The judiciary”s independence is the essence for the consolidation of independence. I have taken oath to protect the constitution and I stress that I am keen on making the judicial authority strong and protective of freedoms," he said.
Suleiman also described Lebanon”s expected election as a non-permanent member of the U.N. Security Council on Thursday an "important event" that would help the country defend itself and stress the right of return for Palestinian refugees.
With its Security Council member status, Lebanon will keep a close watch on "suspicious" draft resolutions, the president added.