Obama Highlights Baabda Declaration Significance in Cable to Suleiman
U.S. President Barack Obama has stressed the importance of the Baabda Declaration as a “significant heritage for next generations” in a cable he sent to former President Michel Suleiman.
The Baabda Declaration, which stipulates separating Lebanon from regional conflicts, is an asset for your leadership, the cable said according to a statement released by Suleiman on Tuesday.
Obama underscored the Declaration's “great importance” for next generations, who are urged to hold onto it to empower the Lebanese state, preserve its independence, and defend its institutions, said the cable.
The Baabda Declaration was issued in June 2012 following a national dialogue session and it calls for neutralizing Lebanon from the policies of regional axes except for issues related to Arab consensus and the Palestinian cause.
The U.S. leader reminded Suleiman of both men's collaboration to support the Lebanese army and the security forces, to enable them to defend Lebanon and implement the U.N. Security Council resolutions 1559 and 1701.
He also tackled the formation of the International Support Group for Lebanon, saying that it enables the international community to provide more political support to the country in different domains.
The International Support Group was launched by United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon with Suleiman to help mobilize support and assistance for Lebanon’s stability, sovereignty and state institutions and to specifically to encourage assistance for the Lebanese army, Syrian refugees in Lebanon and host communities and government programs and public services impacted by the Syrian crisis.
Separately, Suleiman hoped in another released statement that concerned parties in the country would reach a consensus over the new wage scale impasse. He called for adopting it in a way that preserves a balance between revenues and costs, and without harming the state's treasury.
"The parliament must do its job in this respect, especially as official exams are approaching and students' future should not be jeopardized,” the former president said.
He also hoped the parliament would hold the presidential elections “to regulate work in the state's administrations in this critical stage Lebanon and its surroundings are going through.”
S.D.B.
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