Mr. Speaker,
Members of Parliament,

I would have liked to start my mandate with minutes of joy, but I am sure that our minutes of silence will be welcomed by the spirits of our martyrs, standing next to God, who is establishing a promising era for Lebanon, which is overcoming its blunder due to the awareness of its sons, who refused to fall for self-destruction and due to the efforts of its faithful friends and brothers who have aimed at hindering the difficulties and erasing the consequences.

Today, while taking the constitutional oath, I call upon all of you – politicians and citizens – to start a new phase called Lebanon and the Lebanese, in which we make it our priority to commit to one national project with open minds in order to achieve the interests of the country and rise above our sectarian interests and those of others. The sought-after political stability requires of us the activation of the constitutional institutions, wherein political thoughts must be contained and adopted in order to reach common ground and achieve the interests of the country and its sons.

The political dispute and the constitutionally problematic issues that emanated from it should motivate us, not only to find a way out from any problems that we might face in the future but also to achieve the requested balance between prerogatives and responsibilities in order to allow the institutions, including that of the presidency, to perform their pertinent tasks. Lebanon is a country with a message, a country where civilizations and pluralism meet; therefore, we should start working together on repairing our political, administrative, economic and security situation in order to put Lebanon back on the international map in an exemplary role reflecting its individuality and typical glow. Lebanon has chosen to respect what has been agreed to in the Taif Accord and must protect this choice and work on consolidating it, because it emanates from the unifying national will. Supporting any political decision can only be done through that will. Moreover, the Lebanese are willfully connected by the National Agreement Document, the constitution’s light. And it has proved to be stronger than any foreign orientation. Our foreign relationships are excellent and most efficient when they emanate from this agreement, which provides for and protects Lebanon’s interests, respects its uniqueness and allows it to resume its efficient role on both the Arab and international levels, since it is a living example of the coexistence of cultures.

Members of Parliament,

The people gave us their trust in order for us to achieve their ambitions and not to upset them by our narrow political disputes. The most dangerous issue that prevailed in the last years was the political rhetoric based on accusations of treason and finger pointing, which paves the way for discord and division, especially among the youth. Therefore, we should be aware and work on strengthening the country and our coexistence through agreement, within a culture of dialogue, and not leave it an open battlefield. The major attribute of democracy is the handing of authority through free elections. It is of utmost importance to adopt an electoral law that provides a sound basis for representation, strengthens the relationship between voter and representative, and ensures the achievement of the people’s choices and expectations. Accepting the results of these elections and respecting the will of the people is even more important.

The independence of the judiciary power consecrates justice and it is a climate ensuring a safe haven to every righteous person, a public regulation to all the state’s channels, not only to separate between litigants, after all “clean hands” are the attributes of justice, and justice is the foundation of any supreme power.

It is our duty to encourage youthful energy to be involved in the public sector and its institutions, so as to prevent it from growing flabby and allow us all to reach a more able and youthful management. By making the right choice and promoting surveillance instances we reward the meriting, set the negligent right and isolate the corrupted.

Dear assembly,

Diffusing the concerns of young women and men can be achieved by building a country that they are proud of, a country advanced by their abilities, their expertise and participation in finding solutions. Let us allow them, they who have fought the occupation and terrorism, who have stood for the independence, let us let them guide us where we have failed. They are the future, and tomorrow belongs to them. Their wounds have made them stronger, many of them became handicapped and we should ensure their rights and welfare by virtue of law. We should keep in mind an educational reform policy centered on our schools and universities and restoring to them their distinctiveness in this region.

Lebanon’s second wing is turning to us today, hoping to see its country of birth strong again. Here we should recognize the emigrants’ rights and carry on with the procedures necessary to the promotion of their attachment and integration in the country, using their qualifications to prevent them from staying away from their country. They deserve the Lebanese nationality more than any of those who wrongly received it.

Defeating the stalemate and activating the economy require stability on both economic and security levels, in addition to the care of the state, in order to encourage and push competition and productivity forward. Attracting investments and ensuring them a friendly environment will allow us to fight unemployment and contain emigration. This leads us to the necessity to concentrate on our economy, which is productive on the industrial, agricultural and service levels. It also leads us to the necessity of spreading environmental culture and highlighting the touristic aspects of this country.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Our respect for the United Nations’ charters and resolutions is based on our deep conviction that international legitimacy emanates from the principles of right and justice. By emphasizing our contribution to the formation of the Special International Tribunal to try those responsible for the assassination of martyr PM Rafik Hariri and his companions, as well as subsequent assassinations, we are shedding light on what is right and achieving justice.

The emergence of the resistance was a necessity in light of the state’s disintegration, and its survival depended on the fact that the people rallied around it, and the state embraced it both as an entity and as an army. The resistance succeeded in forcing the occupier to withdraw thanks to the valor of its men and the greatness of its martyrs. However, the Shebaa Farms are still under occupation and the enemy persists in its threats and violations of [Lebanon’s] sovereignty, hence the need for us to develop a defensive strategy that preserves the nation in parallel to a calm dialogue so as to take advantage of the resistance’s energies and put them to the service of this strategy. The aim is for the resistance not to deplete its achievements in domestic disputes, thus preserving its value and national status. This day coincides with the national anniversary of liberation and victory; let it serve as an incentive for us to be increasingly aware of the lurking dangers and renew our attachment to freedom and democracy, which we have offered sacrifices for in order to safeguard the nation. Herein lies the need for strenuous efforts in order to release [Lebanese] prisoners and detainees, uncover the fate of those missing and recover our sons who have taken refuge in Israel. Indeed, there is room for all in the nation’s fold.

Lebanon was, and will always remain, attached to consolidating the bonds linking it to its Arab brothers. Hence, we are looking forward intently to building relations between Lebanon and Syria within the framework of mutual respect for the sovereignty and borders of each country and to establishing diplomatic relations that are beneficial to both. The lesson [to be derived] lies in following-up on relations among equals free from any of the previous shortcomings so that we take advantage of and make allowance for past experiences in order to safeguard the interests, welfare and security of the two brother countries.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The state cannot gloss over any destabilization of security and peace, nor will it allow, in any case, for some to be used as fuel for terrorism and for the sacred Palestinian cause to be exploited as a pretext for armament so as to become a source of insecurity, as was the case a year ago, when the Lebanese army was aggressed. Let us unite in order to tackle the consequences of what happened, reconnect what has been broken, heal the wounds and initiate reconstruction. Pain has worn us thin, so let us rejoice with hope. Arms are only for targeting the enemy, and we will not allow them to be targeted in any other direction. Our categorical rejection of naturalization does not entail a refusal to host our Palestinian brothers and to tend to their humanitarian rights; rather, it ascertains the right to return until the establishment of a viable [Palestinian] state. Therefore, Lebanon emphasizes the content of the Arab initiative that was launched from its capital Beirut in 2002.

The armed forces, especially the army, have acquired the confidence of the Lebanese people over the past few years due to their important and historical achievements, ranging from safeguarding democracy and civil peace, to their deployment in our dearest South after more than 30 years [of occupation], to confronting the enemy and terrorism. In so doing, they have paid a heavy price with the blood of their finest men. Yet the latest security incidents led to the impression that the armed forces’ performance did not live up to the hopes that were pinned on them. Consequently, preserving a minimum level of consensus, hence, providing the necessary political cover, contributes to averting such dangers in the future, consolidating their moral status on the national level, equipping them and encouraging the promising, educated youth to join them.

Ladies and gentlemen,

On this occasion, I would like to thank the Arab League and its secretary general for containing the crisis that shook our country and for their fruitful efforts in order to reach the adequate solution. On my own behalf and in the name of the Lebanese people, I would like to express our deepest gratitude to the state of Qatar, His Highness the Emir, His Excellency the Prime Minister and the Arab Ministerial Committee for their honest efforts, for their pan-national commitment to initiating the national dialogue and for hosting and sponsoring it. Our thanks also go out to brotherly and friendly states that have helped the country transcend all difficulties, as well as to those participating in UNIFIL, which is deployed in the South under the mandate of Resolution 1701, for their special performance with regard to the preservation of security in coordination with the Lebanese army. It is necessary to highlight their interest in development and social issues in the areas of their deployment, not to mention the positive reactions of the citizenry towards them.

My fellow countrymen and countrywomen,

We have but a lot to do. This oath I took is indeed a commitment inasmuch as your own will is a commitment. Let us not be showered with promises, but rather tackle reality and its various fields by using our capacities and relying on the support provided by our brothers and friends in order to overcome obstacles. Let us unite in solidarity and walk together towards a deep-rooted reconciliation. Let us sow hope among our sons and launch pioneering, creative and courageous initiatives in order to achieve this purpose while striving for the construction of a capable, civil state based on the respect of public freedoms as well as of the freedom of creed and expression. We have paid a dear price for our national unity, so let us preserve it together, hand in hand, for God is with those who are together.

Long live Lebanon.