President Michel Suleiman urged Arab leaders on Tuesday to preserve minorities in their countries, saying Lebanon's newly-elected Greek Orthodox patriarch faces a tough task of defending Christians in the region.

“We congratulate the Lebanese and Arabs on the election of the new patriarch,” Suleiman told reporters at Our Lady of Balamand Monastery following a short meeting with Patriarch Youhanna X.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi criticized on Sunday Lebanese politicians for failing to agree on fateful issues such as a new electoral draft-law ahead of the polls next year.

“It's a shame … that political parties have suspended (attempts to find) solutions to fundamental national causes such as a new electoral draft-law other than the 1960 law, the formation of a new cabinet and holding elections on time,” al-Rahi said in his sermon.

President Michel Suleiman stressed on Friday that it was important to increase humanitarian aid by international organizations to Syrian refugees.

Suleiman briefed EU Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis response Kristalina Georgieva the efforts exerted by the Lebanese government to help the displaced Syrians.

President Michel Suleiman informed Interior Minister Marwan Charbel that he should continue his preparations for the 2013 parliamentary elections irrespective of vacancies in several posts, An Nahar daily reported on Thursday.

The newspaper quoted Charbel as telling a cabinet session held at Baabda palace on Wednesday that the government was yet to appoint governors and directors of several departments in the interior ministry - posts necessary to prepare for the polls.

President Michel Suleiman hailed on Monday as successful a security plan implemented by the Lebanese Army in the northern city of Tripoli as Prime Minister Najib Miqati hoped the situation there would remain under control following a week of deadly gunbatttles.

“The implementation of the security plan drawn by security officials began yesterday (Sunday) and it seems that it has so far given a positive effect,” Suleiman told a cabinet session held at Baabda palace.

The Higher Defense Council convened at the Baabda Palace on Sunday in order to discuss the latest round of clashes in the northern city of Tripoli.

Council spokesman Major General Adnan Merheb announced after the meeting: “The conferees addressed the security situation in Tripoli and the measures taken by the army in the city.”

President Michel Suleiman told the Mufti of Tripoli and the north Sheikh Malek al-Shaar on Friday that he is following up on the alleged threats the clergyman is receiving and that made him decide to extend his stay in Europe.

"I have been contacted by several officials advising me not to return to Lebanon,” al-Shaar told the Central News Agency, revealing that among the callers was Interior Minister Marwan Charbel.

President Michel Suleiman noted on Friday that democracy in the Arab world cannot be stabilized without establishing an independent Palestinian state.

He added: “The participation of the minorities of the Middle East in political life will also stabilize democracy in the region.”

President Michel Suleiman hoped on Thursday that the Syrian people would be able to hold dialogue in order to reach an agreement over “acceptable political solutions” to their crisis.

He expressed “Lebanon's keenness to avoid the country the repercussions of the conflict.”

A Progressive Socialist Party delegation held talks on Monday with Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel to propose to him an initiative by MP Walid Jumblat to end the ongoing political crisis in Lebanon.

“We have no choice but to discuss the matter with our foes,” Gemayel told reporters after the meeting at the party headquarters in Saifi.