Suleiman Calls for Committing to Baabda Declaration, Seeks U.N., Arab League Support
President Michel Suleiman Thursday called on political factions in the country to commit to the Baabda Declaration, urging the Arab League and the United Nations to protect Lebanon from the repercussions of the Syrian crisis.
"We must neutralize Lebanon from regional conflicts and I urge national leaders to show solidarity over what was agreed on in the Baabda Declaration,” Suleiman stressed in a speech he gave at Saint Joseph University, in an event commemorating the 100 year anniversary of the establishment of the college's Law School.
He elaborated: “The Arab League and the U.N. must protect Lebanon from the repercussions of the Syrian crisis.”
The international community and analysts have expressed fears that the conflict in Syria may spill over into Lebanon.
Meanwhile, the Baabda Declaration, approved in June 2012, stipulates that Lebanon should commit to the policy of disassociation to avoid the spread of the unrest in Syria to Lebanese territory.
“Solutions for the problem of refugees' must also be found through dividing the burden, redistributing their numbers on various countries, and establishing U.N.-protected camps inside Syria in areas away from conflict zones.”
The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees announced earlier in April that the number of Syrian refugees who fled the turmoil in their country to Lebanon have soared to more than 400,000.
Suleiman noted that the region's stability and the establishment of true democracy can be secured “only if democracy prevails in Palestine through a just peace process.”
“The nationalization of Palestinians is dangerous to Lebanon's unity and stability,” he remarked.
Tackling internal Lebanese politics, the president voiced his support for an electoral law that “gives women their rights, secures fair representation, allows 18 years old youth to vote and those who have completed 21 years old to become nominees for parliamentary elections.”
“Partnership between different religious sects is a must,” Suleiman pointed out.
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