Suleiman: Lebanon Won't Be Mailbox, Place to Protect Any Regime Anymore

President Michel Suleiman has stressed that Lebanon will not be a “mailbox” anymore or “a place to protect any regime or state.”

“Lebanon paid dearly for its freedom and democracy and from now on it will not allow anyone to turn it into a launchpad for sending messages to anyone or into a place to protect any regime or state other than Lebanon's,” Suleiman reassured during a meeting with the Lebanese community in Uruguay.

The president called on Lebanese expats not to fear for Lebanon, “as the transformations in the Arab region are in its interest, because it was not able to practice its democracy properly amid the presence of regimes that don't allow power rotation.”

“Some political alliances and groups in Lebanon built their policies according to their links with the neighboring countries because they were aware of the absence of power rotation, that's why Lebanon became an arena for conflict among the neighboring Arab countries, but that has changed today, as politics in Lebanon has become purely Lebanese,” Suleiman added.

“We defeated Israel and liberated the land,” the president said, noting that “the army eradicated the terrorist organizations and paid a hefty price.”

Suleiman also stressed that the 2013 parliamentary elections will happen on time and with the participation of expatriates.