Suleiman denies arming Syrian opposition

President Michel Sleiman said in remarks to be published on Thursday, that Lebanese parties were not arming the Syrian opposition. “Arms are being smuggled and sold for commercial purposes,” Sleiman told the Daily Star newspaper. Regarding the situation on the Syrian-Lebanese border, he said all countries had problems on their borders, not just Lebanon. He also commented on the issue of Syrian refugees and said Lebanon was committed to addressing the "humanitarian situation" of the Syrian refugees and to respect human rights, as stated in the Lebanese constitution. Sleiman added that the international community praised Lebanon’s decision to disassociate itself from what is happening in Syria. “What concerns us with respect to Syria is that the situation stabilises and that democracy is established. This issue is left to the Syrian people, not anyone else.” The president added that the results of the constitutional referendum in Syria confirmed that Syrians want democracy. On the matter of the constitution of Lebanon's parliament, Sleiman denied that vacancies in the state are restricted to Christians and that they include both Christians and Muslims equally, saying that in the Supreme Judicial Council, for example, vacancies depend on efficiency, competence, integrity and seniority.