by aawsat.com — Beirut – Asharq Al-Awsat Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun said on Tuesday he would cooperate with Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Saad Hariri to enable the new parliament restore its legislative and regulatory role as a natural platform for discussing issues that concern the people. In this regard, the president stressed his intention to launch a national dialogue to continue the implementation of the Taif Accord and develop a national defense strategy to guarantee the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. “I shall strive, along with the speaker and prime minister, to complete the implementation of the Taif Accord,” he stated. In an address to the nation, Aoun congratulated the Lebanese people on the parliamentary elections, which were held for the first time on Sunday since 2009. “It became clear that the new electoral law has achieved the correct representation that the Lebanese have always advocated, and has not deprived anyone of fair representation,” the president said.

He underlined the importance of the participation of Lebanese expatriates for the first time in the elections, noting that this achievement “provides new horizons for the Lebanese democratic process and places the country in the ranks of states that respect the vote of every citizen, wherever he or she lives.” Aoun called on all parliamentary blocs to assume their responsibilities at parliament “in order to face common challenges and complete the march towards reviving the country.” He listed some of the achievements of the current legislative and executive authorities, including security and political stability, the regulation of financial affairs, the adoption of the law on citizenship and the completion of diplomatic and judicial appointments. He stressed, on the other hand, that many challenges “await us, including the promotion of economic growth and the implementation of administrative decentralization and e-government as a modern gateway that ensures transparency and combats corruption, to help achieve social justice and sustainable development for all Lebanese regions.”