NNA - The followimg is the speech of President of the Republic, Genetal Joseph Aoun, on the occasion of the Annual Iftar banquet at Baabda palace: "

Mr. Speaker of Parliament,

Mr. Prime Minister,

Former Presidents,

Your Eminences, Beatitudes, Graces and Excellencies,

Ministers, 

Members of Parliament,

Ambassadors,

Distinguished guests,

 This is not a speech. It is simply a heartfelt reflection.

Allow me to begin with something personal. Today marks my 70th day in this institution. From the very first moment I have thought guidance from “the Book” as one of my great predecessors used to call It - the Constitution.

I often paused at two particular phrases: “No authority is legitimate if it contradicts the pact of mutual coexistence.”

“The President of the Republic is the head of State and the symbol of national unity.”

I now confess that I have repeatedly pondered over theessence of these words. What do they truly mean?

And what do they ask of me, and of all of us?

And until I envisioned this gathering, I suddenly grasped the full depth of these words, as if their constitutional and national spirit was meant for a moment like this.

That is when I realized that the legitimacy of any authority in Lebanon as an entity, a nation and a state lies in our togetherness.

To live together, to celebrate life together.

To pray together, to fast together and to break bread together.

To resist together and to triumph together.

To share joy and to mourn together.

To let our unity be our greatest strength so that we may wipe away the sorrow and make joy everlasting.

We must remain together, no matter the challenges. 

 And when I reflect on the President of the Republic being the symbol of national unity, I know that it means and demands, that I be here and that you all be here, under this very roof, the roof of our state, our nation and our covenant of unity.

Because our unity is our greatest asset, our strongest shield and our source of resilience.

It is our most formidable weapon, our richest heritage and our most enduring legacy.

Through unity, we safeguard our homeland from any aggressions or ambitions.

Through unity, we reclaim our rights, liberate our land and bring our captives home.

Through unity, we achieve prosperity, ensure stability and preserve our independence.

Through unity, we rebuild what has been destroyed and we make sure that destruction never happens again.

Through unity, we sow joy in the eyes of our children and hope in their hearts so that they may reap a future worthy of their dreams and our sacrifices.

Through unity, we rise after every fall, we prevail after every setback and we heal every wound.

And we move forward, always believing in a bettertomorrow.

Through unity, no community is left behind, no rights are denied and no one is marginalized.

And if we ever lose sight of this fundamental truth, divine providence reminds us from above by uniting the sacred season of Lent with the blessed month of Ramadan.

It reminds us that both fasts lead to a single profound truth: for Christians, Lent is the path to Resurrection.For Muslims, as the Holy Hadith states “when Ramadan begins the gates of Paradise are opened.”

Thus, the Lord of the heavens and the earth, affirms that we are one. That we are united and will remain so forever.

 Ramadan Kareem and a blessed fast.

I welcome you to this sanctuary of faith in our unity."

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