Lebanese President Michel Sleiman stressed on Tuesday on the need of the national dialogue, hoping that all political powers would sit around the dialogue table on January 7

Lebanese President Michel Sleiman stressed on Tuesday on the need of the national dialogue, hoping that all political powers would sit around the dialogue table on January 7.

“I do not understand the link between boycotting dialogue and the demand to topple the government,” Sleiman said noting that the dialogue had made achievements in the past, the last of which was the announcement of the Baabda Declaration in June.

He made his remarks after holding a closed-door meeting with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi in Bkirki ahead of Christmas mass.

The March 14-led opposition had announced its boycott of government-related activity, including the national dialogue.

“I urge the parties to return to dialogue and if they refuse, then they should offer alternatives,” the president said. “As far as I know, no one wants to eliminate the dialogue, but the boycott is creating instability,” he added.

The Lebanese president also stressed that efforts should be exerted in order to reach an agreement over a new law. “The constitution stresses the importance of holding the parliamentary elections on time and according to a new law,” he said. Elections should be held even if an agreement over a new one is not reached, Sleiman pointed out.

Concerning the crisis of the kidnapped Lebanese pilgrims in Syria, Sleiman said: “A ministerial committee has been formed to tackle the case of the kidnapped pilgrims and the security agencies are also following up on the issue.” “Turkish interests should not be targeted because they are not the kidnappers. We urge Turkey to exert more efforts to ensure the pilgrims' release,” he indicated.