Lebanese Army celebrated Thursday at the "Military Academy" in Fayyadiyeh its 68th anniversary.

Lebanese Army celebrated Thursday at the "Military Academy" in Fayyadiyeh its 68th anniversary.

The celebration was headed by President Michel Sleiman and attended by the Speaker Nabih Berri,  Caretaker PM Najib Mikati, PM-Designate Tammam Salam, and a number of ministers, lawmakers, diplomats, senior military officials and other dignitaries.

The celebration included a military parade and a graduation of a group of officer cadets.

President Sleiman also placed a wreath at the memorial to the martyrs of the army officers.

President Sleiman

President Michel Sleiman considered in his speech that the army defends the state and the citizens, pointing out that last breakthroughs were exceptional cases.

"There must be campaigns to support the army that must be entitled with defending the nation, not defending itself against treachery," Sleiman added.

"It has become urgent to examine and approve the national defense strategy," President Sleiman concluded.