Suleiman to Stress Lebanese Values during Unveiling of Busts of Past Presidents at Baabda

President Michel Suleiman is expected to make a speech on Saturday during the unveiling of the busts of the 12 Lebanese presidents that have ruled the country since its independence in 1943, reported al-Joumhouria newspaper on Saturday.

The daily said that the president will retain the “firm tone” that marked his recent speeches.

He is set to reaffirm Lebanese values and suggest ways to overcome pending obstacles and upcoming events in the country, especially the presidential election, which is set for spring 2014.

He will emphasize once again the need to distance Lebanon from the conflict in Syria and halt Lebanese fighter' involvement in the unrest due to the heavy repercussions that Lebanon will incur as a result of the fighting.

The unveiling of the busts will take place at the Baabda Serail.

During his last speech, which took place on Wednesday, Suleiman criticized accusations by some Lebanese officials that Saudi Arabia was behind bombings in Lebanon.

He warned that such claims will harm Lebanon's ties with the kingdom.

Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah had accused on Tuesday Saudi Arabia of being behind the November 19 twin bombings near the Iranian embassy in Beirut.

He explained that the kingdom targeted the embassy as part of the regional dispute between Tehran and Riyadh.

An al-Qaida-affiliated group, the Abdullah Azzam Brigades, claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was aimed at pressuring Iran ally Hizbullah to withdraw its fighters from Syria.