BEIRUT, 26 May 2008 — Michel Suleiman appealed for unity yesterday after being sworn in as Lebanon’s new president following a Parliament vote that capped a long-running political crisis in the country. “Let us unite... and work toward a solid reconciliation,” the former army chief said after being sworn in. “We have paid dearly for our national unity. Let us preserve it hand-in-hand.”

“I call upon all of you, politicians and citizens, to start a new phase called Lebanon and the Lebanese... in order to achieve the interests of the nation,” he added.

Lawmakers greeted Suleiman, 59, when he arrived in Parliament with a standing ovation following his election by MPs in a much-delayed vote. The presidency had been left empty since November when pro-Syrian Emile Lahoud stepped down at the end of his term with no elected successor because of a long-running standoff between the Western-backed majority and the Hezbollah-led opposition backed by Syria and Iran.

Suleiman vowed to protect the country’s constitution, sovereignty and independence and urged the Lebanese to put their differences aside to bring about a new era. “I swear by God Almighty that I will respect Lebanon’s constitution and its rules and that I will protect the sovereignty of Lebanon,” he said.

“In this new era, we will commit to a national plan ... in which the country’s interests will be a priority over factional and sectarian interests.”

He added that Lebanon’s weapons should only be directed at the enemy and not elsewhere, an implicit reference to Hezbollah which staged a brief armed takeover this month of mainly Sunni areas of west Beirut.

He also said that as president he would seek friendly and diplomatic relations with Syria, Lebanon’s former powerbroker which backs the opposition and which has no formal diplomatic ties with its smaller neighbor.

Suleiman said Lebanon needed to establish a defense strategy to address continued violations of its territory by Israel and to liberate the disputed Shebaa Farms territory.

Bush Hails Election

US President George W. Bush yesterday hailed the election of Suleiman. “I am confident that Lebanon has chosen a leader committed to protecting its sovereignty, extending the government’s authority over all of Lebanon, and upholding Lebanon’s international obligations under UN Security Council resolutions,” Bush said.

“We look forward to working with President Suleiman in pursuit of our common values of freedom and independence,” he added.