7th National Dialogue Session on June 1
National dialogue participants stressed at the end of the sixth session of all party-talks on holding elections in a calm and democratic atmosphere and called for abiding by decisions made during previous sessions.
The 14 political leaders also agreed Tuesday to hold the seventh session on June 1 to discuss parliamentary elections.
The sixth session kicked off at Baabda palace Tuesday morning. President Michel Suleiman stressed at the start of the all-party talks on the need to keep a calm political and media atmosphere. He also urged to make administrative appointments as the June 7 elections are approaching.
Suleiman and MP Michel Aoun held closed-door talks for around 40 minutes ahead of the dialogue session.
Several meetings were also held on the sidelines of the all-party talks, including talks between Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat and Hizbullah MP Mohammed Raad. They were later joined by MP Boutros Harb.
Al-Mustaqbal movement leader Saad Hariri also held side talks with Speaker Nabih Berri after a similar small meeting that brought together Berri, Hariri, Jumblat and MP Hagop Pakradounian.
Sources had told An Nahar newspaper that the 14 political leaders will stress on the "pact of honor" that they had sealed during a previous session. The pact stresses on calm and holding the June 7 polls in a peaceful atmosphere and away from tension and disturbances.
The sources said some March 14 representatives could raise the issue of remarks by Hizbullah MP Mohammed Raad, in which he said the Lebanese government must go for being part of an aggressive program against Lebanon and the Lebanese.
The March 14 officials will also ask Raad about Hizbullah”s written defense strategy proposal, in particular after the party and Amal movement haven”t yet named their representatives to an experts committee, the sources told An Nahar.
The committee, tasked with studying defense strategy proposals, met only once for lack of quorum, the sources added.
Minister Wael Abou Faour told Voice of Lebanon radio before the conference that the session could be the last ahead of the polls.
Meanwhile, As Safir newspaper had said that Berri and Aoun were expected to hold a meeting on the sidelines of the all-party talks at Baabda palace.