Suleiman: Maronite Meeting Laid Basis for Discussing Electoral Law that Respects Taif Accord

President Michel Suleiman stated on Sunday that a parliamentary electoral law should cater to all insecurities in Lebanon and provide equality between its people.

He said after holding talks with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi at Bkirki: “The Maronite meeting laid the basis for discussions on the electoral law that unite all sects and respect the Taif Accord.”

The Maronite meeting, which was held earlier in December, reached an agreement to adopt the Orthodox gathering proposals on the electoral law.

It suggested that each sect in Lebanon vote for its candidate in the elections based on proportional representation.

Suleiman told reporters after his meeting with the patriarch that national dialogue should be resumed in order to tackle a defense strategy for Lebanon and the fate of the Resistance’s possession of arms.

On Friday’s twin bombings in Damascus, he stressed: “Lebanon opposes terrorism and I am certain that no Lebanese town would harbor terrorists.”

He made his statements in reference to allegations that al-Qaida members had infiltrated the Bekaa town of Arsal.

“All sides should cooperate with the security authorities to thwart terrorist activity,” stated the president.

He added that he contacted Syrian President Bashar Assad to condole him over the victims of the twin bombings.

Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn had warned on Tuesday that al-Qaida members have entered the country through Arsal “under the guise of being members of the Syrian opposition”.

The defense minister said that reining in such incidents was “first and foremost the responsibility of the army and security forces,” but added that “at the same time it is a national responsibility that must be shouldered by all Lebanese parties.”

The Syrian authorities had accused al-Qaida of being behind the Damascus bombing, saying that members of the organization had entered the country from Lebanon.