President Michel Suleiman on Wednesday stressed that the current circumstances require the rival parties to show willingness to engage in national dialogue, noting that the Baabda Declaration is the only means to find a national defense strategy. “Independence Day is an occasion to remember the joy of freedom and evaluate the bitterments and achievements of the past decades,” the president said in a televised address to the nation on the eve of Independence Day. "Independence Day is an occasion to stress our ultimate loyalty to our homeland so that it remains immune to plots, conspiracies and sedition," he added.

Suleiman called on the Lebanese to define their "priorities." [Link]