Aoun presides over military parade on Independence Day, in presence of Berri, Hariri

21 Nov 2017

Lebanon - President of the Republic Michel Aoun presided Wednesday morning over the military parade marking Lebanon's 74th Independence Day held at Shafic Wazzan Highway in downtown Beirut, in presence of House Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Saad Hariri, as well as Army Chief General Joseph Aoun and a crowd of Lebanon's former Presidents, former House Speakers, former Prime Ministers and various Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament, senior political, military, religious, judicial, diplomatic, economic and media officials and prominent dignitaries.

This year's parade was significantly marked by army officers and soldiers wearing the new military suit, which Army Chief had presented to the President at Baabda Palace yesterday.

The military parade was also marked by over-flights of the "Super-Tocano" aircrafts, accompanied by the march of "Bradley" armored vehicles.

At the end of the celebration, the President headed back to Baabda Palace to receive congratulations on the occasion, along with the House Speaker and Prime Minister.

Hariri responded to Aoun's request to take more time for consultations

Lebanese PM puts resignation on hold

November 22, 2017

Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad Hariri has announced he is putting his resignation on hold to give way for more consultations nearly three weeks after he unexpectedly announced he was stepping down.

In surprise conciliatory comments from the presidential palace, Hariri said he is putting Lebanon's interest first and is looking forward to a "real partnership" with Lebanese President Michel Aoun.

He said he presented his resignation to Aoun at the presidential palace, but then responded to Aoun's request to take more time for consultations, "hoping it will constitute a serious introduction for (national) dialogue."

"Our beloved nation needs in this critical period exceptional efforts from everyone to protect it in the face of dangers and challenges," Hariri said in a statement from the presidential palace.

He reiterated the need for Lebanon to remain neutral on regional disputes and conflicts "and all that undermines internal stability and brotherly relations with Arab brothers."

Hariri's announcement suggests Saudi Arabia's young crown prince realised he had overreached with the decision to fire Hariri, which constituted another failed move to try and counter Iran.

Hariri's mysterious televised resignation from Saudi Arabia had sparked a political and diplomatic crisis as Lebanese officials accused the Gulf kingdom, which is feuding with Iran for influence in the region, of forcing the Sunni, Saudi-aligned politician to resign and detaining him for days.

Top Lebanese officials accused Hariri's patron, Saudi Arabia, of forcing his resignation and detaining him in the kingdom for days. The Lebanese rallied around Hariri, unanimously calling for his return from Saudi Arabia in what became an embarrassment to the kingdom.

Earlier on Wednesday, Hariri participated in Independence Day celebrations, his first official appearance since his resignation.

Aoun in Independence Address: Lebanon will not bow to strife sowing decisions

21 Nov 2017

Lebanon - Lebanon will not bow to any opinion, advice, or decision that pushes it towards internal strife, President of the republic, Michel Aoun, said in an address to the nation on the eve of Lebanon's 74th Independence Day on Tuesday.

"Independence is an assiduous work and an incessant struggle; it is the story of a people who paid a lot to remain sovereign and free-willed across a free land," Aoun said, vowing to endeavor to protect the country's sovereignty, independence, and stability, and to continue the state building process.

"I have already said in my oath that our top priority is to prevent the spillover of neighboring flames into Lebanon, and I have highlighted the necessity to keep Lebanon away from foreign conflicts and to respect the Arab League's Charter. Therefore, we have adopted an independent policy and avoided implication in conflicts; we have called for dialogue among the Arab brothers," he added.

"As the war broke out in Syria, terrorist organizations started to penetrate our eastern borders and to infiltrate into the Lebanese home in an attempt to take over as many towns and regions and possible," he continued.

"Despite our victory over terrorism and the liberation of our land, we still wonder: where did this terrorism come from? who did send and fund it? who did gear it up and why? isn't to shake stability and sow strife?" he asked.

"On the other hand, Israel is squatting in the southern borders, and its history with Lebanon is full of hostilities and destructive wars," he added.

"Today, [Israel] is violating our sovereignty, in the air and the sea and on the ground, flouting the international resolutions and threatening us with new wars," he said, calling the international community for a new approach building on justice and the right to auto-determination.

"Lebanon will not bow to any opinion, advice, or decision that leads it towards strife; he who wishes good for Lebanon had best help it protecting its unity for it is its safety valve," he underscored.

"It is in this context that the recent governmental crisis has erupted (...) it has constituted for the Lebanese people a shocking test and a major national challenge, over which we cannot remain silent," he stressed, adding that "sovereignty is one indivisible whole, whether on the ground or in the domestic and foreign policies."

"Amid the current turmoil around us, I would like to deliver a few messages, with all due honesty and sincerity. My first message is for the Arab brothers: dealing with Lebanon requires a lot of wisdom and rationality; the opposite only drags Lebanon towards fire. And despite everything that has happened, we are still pinning hope on the Arab League, in terms of taking the initiative to preserve itself and its member states, and to save its sovereignty and independence. I would also call the international community that is well aware of the importance of Lebanon's stability, to protect it, through the full implementation of international justice," he said.

"As to the Lebanese, I say: with your unity you overcame a lot of hardships and crises. Do not let strife emerge among you. Your unity is your salvation, your safety, your stability, the future of your nation and children. To our army and security forces, I say: you are the guardians of our internal unity and our borders, so be always ready to assume your duty," he said.

"We have all paid the highest prices so that we celebrate Independence Day after it was just a memory; so, enjoy your independence, protect it and preserve it. Long live Lebanon, a free, sovereign, and independent country," he concluded.