The Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam reiterated on Friday the importance of electing a new president, noting that this case should be a priority in any discussion or compromise.

The Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam reiterated on Friday the importance of electing a new president, noting that this case should be a priority in any discussion or compromise.

The head of government spoke at the inauguration of the 59th edition of the Arab Book Fair at BIEL.

He said the annual event devoted an intellectual meeting space, far from any kind of political, economic and security issues.

He particularly stopped at religious books, saying "laxity with regard to religion, either in books or in the media, can give way to errors and negatively influence young people, leading them to terrorist organizations."

In this context, Salam regretted the orchestrated terrorist acts in Lebanon and around the world, citing in particular the bombings in Beirut and Paris.

"In Lebanon, we are facing terrorist acts whose objective is to sow discord and instability," he said, adding that the efforts of the army and security forces on one side, and that national unity on the other, prohibit terrorism to achieve its conspiracies woven against the country.

Salam finally considered that the national dialogue paved the way for an agreement to find a solution to crises and the political deadlock in the country.