He reiterated his call for dialogue and for respecting previous agreements reached during dialogue talks specially with regards to the funding of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and the illegal Palestinian arms outside the camps.

Here is an outline the statements he made:

“Liberation from any foreign mandate, occupation or hegemony is the most important condition for independence, in addition to extending the state’s authority over its entire territory, the sovereignty of the national decision and the state’s success in running the public affairs through its free will. “He said adding “the best path towards independence lies in our national charter and in our total allegiance to our homeland. ”

Suleiman said “This is the first time since 1975 that no enemy or brotherly forces exist on Lebanese soil ”

“It is the first time also since 1975, that, for a period longer than three years, Lebanon has not witnessed any significant conflicts .”

“We have sought to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended a devastating war between Hezbollah and Israel , in cooperation with the Lebanese army.” he added

“During this period, we have established diplomatic relations with Syria and have held elections. The government began discussing the drafting of a new electoral law that guarantees fair representation. “( a possible reference to the electoral law that calls for proportional representation ).

“I know you are worried that the government and [its] institutions are not being able to fully assume responsibility of all Lebanese territory and [protect the citizens from] Israeli [violations of Lebanese territory], but this should not be a source of frustration.”

He called for comprehensive nation-wide dialogue.

“Regardless of the current debate over the possibility of resuming national dialogue, we should [work] to build a united state. We should not delay the implementation of what we have agreed to during [past] dialogue sessions, especially concerning the use of arms by Palestinian refugees in Lebanon . Additionally, we should be committed to implementing international resolutions, especially those related to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), probing the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri .

He concluded his speech by saying:
“My message to all Lebanese is to be neutral regarding anything that can affect their peace and dreams, and to commit to the path of dialogue, moderation and coexistence.”

This is Breaking news ….More details to follow

According to National News Agency, Suleiman and Murr discussed the current political developments in the country.

Murr told An Nahar newspaper following the meeting ” things are back on track and better than before ”
adding , “we have been friends for 25 years.”

“This meeting stresses our political and personal support to the policies undertaken by the president,” An Nahar quoted him as saying.

A leaked U.S. Embassy cable dated May 13, 2008 revealed that Murr voiced his disappointment with the army’s performance during the May 7, 2008 clashes, describing then Army Commander (Suleiman) as a “coward, cautious and conspiring”.

following the meeting Suleiman criticized “media reports that don’t necessarily reflect the actual ties between various political leaders and authorities.”

“These reports instead reflect their writers’ intentions to create disputes and they should therefore be disregarded in order to maintain Lebanon’s unity and stability,” Suleiman said.

“These statements are a good start , but it is necessary to transform them into action, especially with regard to the implementation of Lebanon’s commitment to paying its $32 million share of funding the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) probing the [2005] assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri,” the statement said.

The bloc added that “some parties participating in the government are openly declaring their rejection of STL, and and are protecting the suspects accused of killing Hariri.”

Both Suleiman and Mikati said during their visits to UN in New York that Lebanon cannot be selective in implementing U.N. resolutions. Both reiterated Lebanon’s commitment to U.N. resolutions, including Resolution 1757 that established the STL.

Hezbollah-led March 8 parties – which currently dominate Lebanon’s cabinet – have opposed a clause in the Lebanese annual state budget pertaining to the funding of the tribunal.

Four Hezbollah members have been indicted by the STL. However, the Shiite group strongly denied the charges and refuses to cooperate with the court.

The Beiteddine palace is located in the Shouf region of MT Lebanon, east of the capital

Ministerial sources told As Safir newspaper on Monday that the president will not give up on this issue .

The sources warned that there would be more division among the Lebanese if they don’t meet at the dialogue table.

Suleiman is scheduled to host an Iftar banquet in honor of political and spiritual officials on August 11 where he is expected to stress the importance of dialogue.

Former PM and current Future bloc leader MP Fouad Siniora said in an interview published on Sunday that the national dialogue should “be limited to the issue of Hezbollah’s arms so that it will be purposeful and meaningful.”

The former PM also voiced the importance of Arab League participation in the national dialogue, adding that Hezbollah should “show a clear will to participate in the government and set a date to implement all the issues that were agreed upon in the previous national dialogues.”

In 2010, Hamdan and his band, Zeid and the Wings, wrote a song called “General Sleiman” that called on the president, who led the army before his 2008 election, to “go home.”

A message posted earlier in the day on his Facebook page said: “Message from Zeid [Hamdan] in prison: Dear friends, I am now in the prison of the police station of the palace of justice in Beirut because of my song ‘General [Suleiman]’. They are prosecuting me for [defamation] of President [Suleiman]. I [don’t] know, until when I am staying in prison. Please mobilize!”

A friend of Hamdan’s and Darine al-Hajj, director of the local human rights group ALEF, confirmed to NOW Lebanon that Hamdan was detained.

The Facebook group “Free Opinion, Free Speech, Mobilize NOW to Free Zeid Hamdan” said that activists would protest tomorrow in Beirut’s Adlieh area—near the General Security building he is allegedly detained in—if he is not released tonight.

The presidential palace did not return a call seeking comment. In 2010, Mirza had four people arrested for opening a Facebook group critical of the president.

In a 2010 interview with NOW Lebanon’s Angie Nassar, Hamdan said he did not intend to single out Sleiman for critique.

“I’m not attacking General Sleiman in particular, on the contrary, at the time I wrote the song, he represented real political neutrality. The only sarcastic thing I suggested in my song is about his effective role, a way of saying ‘thank you, you did the job, you can go home now.’ He was praised by all when they needed him and today he is attacked, like in the song,” he said.

Update – Hamdan Released from Prison

Hamdan was reportedly released Wednesday evening according to lawyer, Nizar Saghieh.

Saghieh added that Attorney General Judge Said Mirza must now decide whether to file formal charges against Hamdan. Slandering the president in Lebanon carries a maximum prison sentence of two years.

A posting on Hamdan’s Facebook page said: “I am free now, thank [you] for your help!”

Mirza ordered Hamdan arrested for a music video he made about Sleiman, according to Saghieh.

In the song, entitled “General Sleiman,” Hamdan’s group “Zeid and The Wings” describes the head of state as a “miracle man” and urges all “militiamen, corrupted politicians, weapons dealers, foreign intelligence and neighbor influence” to go home.

The reggae-style English language song ends with the following lyrics: “General Sleiman, you’re a miracle man for peace in the nation. General Sleiman you’re a miracle man. Gene, gene, general go home.”

Now Lebanon

Suleiman called on the relevant authorities to increase their efforts to reveal who the perpetrators are and punish them, adding that such attacks do not serve Lebanon or its image. “Tampering with security is forbidden.”

Future bloc leader MP Fouad Siniora issued a statement on Wednesday condemning the “terrorist” attack against UN peacekeepers.

“This is a terrorist attack that aims to harm Lebanon’s stability and security and use the country to send [certain] messages.”

Siniora voiced the importance of increasing efforts to reveal who the perpetrators behind the attack are and punish them.

The state must “restore” its authority on all Lebanese territories through its legitimate security institutions, he added.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said on Wednesday that “the intention behind the attack against the French UNIFIL battalion is to say that the army and the state do not have anything to do with anything, and are just figureheads,” according to a statement issued by his office.

Geagea voiced surprise that “the attack that came following [Lebanese] army chief Jean Kahwaji’s visit to France, [during which he said] that the Lebanese army is the guarantor… for the security of UNIFIL forces in South Lebanon.”

He expressed his regret for the harm suffered by UNIFIL soldiers “who left their homelands to keep the security and peace in our country,” wished them a speedy recovery, and thanked the French government for “all it is doing in favor of Lebanon.”

Now Lebanon

“We succeeded in preserving stability in the past years, which resulted in economic growth. Nothing stops us from preserving this stability despite all dangers surrounding us,” he said

“We should refer to the legitimate institutions to resolve any dispute,” Suleiman added.

He also said that the Lebanese people are tired from internal disputes , aspire to build the state institutions and are now looking for stability and sustainable development.

The president also said that Lebanon needs real reconciliation between its parties, adding that the Lebanese system respects diversity and is keen to preserve compromise between its people.

The patriarch is on a spiritual visit to the district of Jbeil, where Amchit is located. The dinner was also attended by Lebanon’s top officials, political leaders and religious authorities.

Suleiman stressed on Saturday that he will seek to launch a national dialogue with the Lebanese leaders to fortify Lebanon.

“We will seek to launch the national dialogue to agree on the defense strategy to meet the Israeli threats ”

He addressed patriarch al-Rai saying: “Since day one you have worked on gathering the Maronite leaders and called for an Islamic-Christian summit to implement dialogue and co-existence.”

Suleiman remarked that during the past few years “We were able to achieve stability… And committed ourselves to the democratic principle of rotating power.”

“However, we didn’t forget to seek the social justice,” he stressed.

Patriarch Rai on his part urged the president, Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Najib Miqati to go forward in their partnership.

Makari told Mikati: ” The blocking minority you think you have will be obstructed when it’s needed. He is referring to the centrist bloc share in the cabinet .

The newly formed cabinet includes 18 ministers out of 30 who are either Hezbollah members or allies. The other 12 ministers were allocated to the so called centrist bloc which includes 3 for the president , 6 for PM Mikati and 3 for MP Walid Jumblatt.

Jumblatt’s share of 3 ministers was included in the centrist bloc , but according to observers Hezbollah considers Jumblatt its ally and thus it controls his share too . Including Jumblatt in the share of Mikati and Suleiman was reportedly a ploy intended to cover up Hezbollah’s control of the government .

Makari added: ” It appears that the policy statement allowed the possession of illegitimate arms to continue in Lebanon. ” A possible reference to Hezbollah’s so called ” resistance arms “which were pointed at the Lebanese people in May 2008.

Addressing the issue of the clause in the ministerial statement that relates to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) Makari said : “We wonder if the policy statement deliberately forgot to mention that the STL was approved unanimously. ” He added: ” The policy statement indicates that it supports dialogue, while it avoids the national dialogue’s agreement on the STL. ”

Makari added: “This cabinet suffers from schizophrenia because on one hand it sets Lebanon in confrontation with the international community over the the STL clause and on the other hand it isays that it wants good ties with all sides. ”

Makari concluded his statement by saying : “This government belongs to Syria and we refuse the term “in principle” in the STL clause in its policy statement, ” adding “the government’s concept of good ties with Syria means restoring Syrian hegemony over Lebanon.”

Rifi was reportedly planning to take part in a security conference in France, according to  Al-Akhbar newspaper.

Former PM Saad Hariri is reportedly still in Paris because he has received several threats on his life .

According to observers the  Charbel   has been undermining  Rifi ever since  he was named  as an Interior Minister. Al-Akhbar reported  Saturday that Charbel ordered a freeze on the promotion of the 400 internal security employees from ( policemen to sergeants ) that were recently promoted by Rifi.

The daily said the newly promoted employees had to give up their badges a day after the ISF chief promoted them.

Charbel represents president Michel Suleiman in the new cabinet , while Rifi is supported by former  PM  Hariri , a key leader in the March 14 alliance . According to analysts if Suleiman will start targeting March 14 supporters he will cease being a centrist and could be subjecting himself to attacks by the new opposition.

The newly named Interior Minister Marwan Charbel clashed with Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi over the issue of promotions within the security forces .

Al-Akhbar newspaper said Saturday that Charbel ordered a freeze on the promotion of the 400 internal security employees from ( policemen to sergeants ) that were recently promoted by Rifi

Rifi signed off on the promotion on June 22, according to Al-Akhbar

The daily said the newly promoted employees had to give up their badges a day after the ISF chief promoted them.

Charbel represents president Michel Suleiman in the new cabinet , while Rifi is supported by former PM Saad Hariri , a key leader in the March 14 alliance . According to analysts if Suleiman will start targeting March 14 supporters he will cease being a centrist and could be subjecting himself to attacks by the new opposition.

According to March 14 coordinator Fares Soueid , Suleiman helped Hezbollah in toppling the government of former PM Saad Hariri last January . The Iranian and Syrian backed Hezbollah-led March 8 alliance had 10 members in the last cabinet but needed one more minister to resign in order to bring down the cabinet . It was the vote of the Shiite minister that was assigned to Suleiman , Minister of State Adnan Sayyed Hussein that finally brought down the government.

Hussein was reportedly promised by Hezbollah the ministry of Foreign Affairs as a reward of his cooperation , but the party reneged on its promise and he is not in the new cabinet.

Hezbollah brought down PM Saad Hariri’s government on January 12 over the Special Tribunal for Lebanon’s ( STL) indictment which is widely expected to implicate Hezbollah members in the assassination of former PM Rafik Hariri in 2005.