Local Editor, 23-11-2009


The Lebanese military has held a parade in the Shafik Wazzan Boulevard in downtown Beirut. The event marked the 66th anniversary of the country's independence from France.

Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, Speaker, Nabih Berri, Prime Minister, Saad Hariri as well as a number of official and military figures attended the ceremony.

The navy and air force divulged their technology and recent military progress. The Lebanese Independence Day was first observed on November the 22nd, 1943. It's a day to remember the liberation from the 23 year French autonomy over Lebanese land.

This year's Independence Day came just two weeks after the formation of the government, and the 12-member committee tasked with drafting the Ministerial Statement has yet to complete the document.

In a speech on the eve of the Independence Day, President Michel Suleiman called for abolishing political sectarianism: "To encourage vast participation in political life, a national committee should be established and charged with abolishing political sectarianism."

On his part, Army commander Gen. Jean Kahwaji instructed Lebanese soldiers to raise the level of alert along the border with "Israel", in preparation for an attack planned by "the Israeli enemy."

In a statement published ahead of Lebanon's Independence Day, the general called for "greater vigilance" on the border, "to counter the planned attacks by the "Israeli" enemy against the homeland."

All the available options must be used to address "Israel's" violations of the country's sovereignty by "land, sea and air," Kahwaji added.

He asked the army to stand by the Lebanese people and to support Resistance, stressing Lebanon's right to the "liberation of its land still under occupation in the Shaba Farms, and the villages of Shuba and Ghajar."

The main slogan at the parade was Together we have attended our independence and united we shall defend it, this slogan if put into action will protect Lebanon from any hostile threat.