Participants in national dialogue stress commitment to Baabda Declaration

The participants in the second round of the national dialogue held in Baabda and headed by President Michel Suleiman, stressed their commitment to the Baabda Declaration, mainly the media and political calm the abstention from using Lebanon as a conduit for arms smuggling.     

The interlocutors decided to resume discussions over the defense strategy and arms during the next round that is scheduled for July 24.        

Participants agreed on setting a mechanism to implement the previous round’s recommendations. They also called on the government to follow up on the implementation of the decisions of both the Taef agreement and the dialogue body regarding the Palestinian weapons.         

They stressed the necessity to maintain the continuity of dialogue to reach a defense strategy acceptable by all.      

The second round of the national dialogue was held Monday in the absence of former PM Saad Hariri, Lebanese Forces Chief Samir Geagea, Deputy Speaker Farid Makari and Finance Minister Mohammad Safadi.