Clinton Telephones Suleiman, Praises his Call for Democracy in Political Practice

U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton telephoned on Monday President Michel Suleiman to praise his speech at the Arab League summit that was held in Baghdad in late March.

She lauded his call to implement democracy in political practice and expressed her country’s support to such an end.

She also revealed that her envoy, Jeffrey Feltman, will travel to Lebanon to follow up on the situation in the Arab world.

Suleiman and Clinton’s talks addressed local and regional developments and ways to bolster bilateral ties.

During his speech at the Arab summit, the president said: “The developments in the Arab world require wise and brave decisions.”

This requires the rulers to make the right choices that would achieve the greater good of the Arab countries that would lead to their stability and unity, he added.

In order to accomplish this goal, all sides must commit to the “true democratic Arabism, based on equality and the need to maintain diversity, which is embodied in the various sects existing in the region,” Suleiman stated.

“Lebanon therefore seeks to contribute to these changes based on its principles of freedom, dialogue, and mutual coexistence,” he continued.

The president later held talks at the Baabda Palace with former Prime Minister Fouad Saniora.

He then met with Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji to follow up on the Lebanese army's interception on Friday of a ship that was smuggling weapons to Syria.

Media reports over the weekend had said that Feltman would arrive in Lebanon later this week to tackle Arab developments and Lebanon’s 2013 parliamentary elections.