NNA - President of the Republic, Michel Sleiman, called on all sides of the political divide to adhere in words and deeds to Baabda Declaration.



President Sleiman's fresh words came Tuesday in his address at the iftar banquet at Baabda palace.



He brought to attention that all sides of national dialogue body agreed in Baabda Declaration on "the need to dissociate Lebanon from the policy of axes and conflicts, not to mention sparing the country negative repercussions of regional crises."



Sleiman also said that all sides agreed in Baabda Declaration on the need to prevent using Lebanon as a base or passage or a platform for smuggling arms and militants, in addition to following-up discussion of national defense strategy item.



Sleiman stressed that continued political polarizations in the country should not lead whatsoever to paralyzing Lebanon's public political life and disrupting the work of institutions; at a time swift solutions to pressing socio-economic problems are highly needed. Sleiman called for the continuation of the State's plan to address displaced Syrians' dossier, and demonstrating full support to the legal institutions, notably the army, to enable it to carry out its grand national tasks.



"We must all show our unconditional support to this united institution [the army] and stay away from any form of incitement against its integrity and cohesion," Sleiman stressed.



On Cabinet formation issue, Sleiman urged all sides to demonstrate responsibility and back the relentless pursuit of Prime Minister Designate, Tammam Salam, to form a new government, through seriously facilitating his task and avoid raising the ceilings of demands in this regard.



Sleiman emphasized that vacuum or maintaining status quo shall never fall in the interest of the nation, and shall not be, as such, an alternative to the formation of a national unity government.



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