Michel Suleiman
Commander of the Armed Forces | |
---|---|
In office 21 December 1998 – 30 August 2008 | |
Preceded by | Émile Lahoud |
Succeeded by | Jean Kahwaji |
Personal details | |
Born | Amchit, Lebanon | 21 November 1948
Political party | Independent |
Spouse |
Lebanese Armed Forces |
Battles/wars | Lebanese Civil War Operation Dinnieh Operation Benin 2006 Lebanon War Operation Nahr el-Bared |
Michel Suleiman (
After Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) commander Émile Lahoud took office as president in November 1998, Suleiman succeeded him, taking his place in December. Suleiman was later elected President and was sworn into office on 25 May 2008.[2][3]
Early life and education
Suleiman was born in Amsheet in a Maronite Christian family on 21 November 1948. He joined the Lebanese Armed Forces in 1967 and went on to graduate from the military academy as 2nd lieutenant in 1970.[4] He holds a Bachelor of Arts in politics and administrative sciences from the Lebanese University.[5]
During his military career, he participated in several military training courses :
- Officer course, Military school, Lebanon, 1970
- Advanced training course, 7 January 1971 to 4 July 1971, Belgium
- Staff course, 9 February 1981 to 17 July 1981, Staff school, France
- General Command and Staff Course, Command and Staff College, starting 6 June 1988 for 52 weeks
- International Defense Management course, United States of America from 22 June 1995 to 25 July 1995
Military career
During his military service, he progressed from an infantry
On 19 May 2007, the Lebanese Army entered into a
On 7 May 2008, an ongoing political crisis between government loyalists and the opposition
Military achievements
- Fighting terrorism and extremism, notably through the following operations:[2]
- Discovering and fighting terrorist organizations in the high and barren mountains of North Lebanon in 2000, eliminating most of their members, dismantling their cells in all Lebanese regions and arresting their members.
- Attacking the organization of Fatah al-Islam in the Nahr al-Baredrefugee camp on 20 May 2007, in reaction to an armed robbery of a bank and two attacks on LAF posts nearby the camp.
- Separating anti-Syrian protests and pro-Syrian counter protests in 2005.
- Completing the Army redeployment operation all over the Lebanese territories following the withdrawal of the Syrian Armed Forces on 26 April 2005 in addition to the disturbances and security violations during the year 2007.
- Restructuring the Lebanese Army after the amendment of the military service law.[2]
- Discovering an Israeli spying network in operation "Surprise at Dawn" on 6 June 2006.[9]
- Offering a plan to end the 2006 Lebanon War, with a compromise solution for all parties. This plan included the planning and the preparation for the deployment of Lebanese Army in the south and on the land and sea crossover, this operation carried out accurately and faithfully and at the conclusion of the operation on the second of October, the Lebanese flag was hoisted on the hill of Labbouni adjacent to the southern border indicating the return of the Lebanese sovereignty to the south.[2]
Path to the presidency
On 23 November 2007, the term of
Several names were advanced as potential candidates for the presidency, including Michel Aoun, Nassib Lahoud, Jean Obeid, amongst others, each of whom was affiliated either to 14 March or 8 March camps. It soon became apparent however that only an independent candidate would be acceptable to both sides. Suleiman was generally accepted as being the only possible candidate and as a unifying candidate. Most Lebanese commentators and policy makers agreed that Suleiman had won the trust of both the government and opposition camp, and that of most countries in the Arab region, as well as most Western countries. However, his election could not take place until a number of fundamental disagreements between 14 and 8 March camps could be resolved, including the issue of whether a government of national unity should be formed, and what specific electoral law should be passed in preparation for the parliamentary elections that were to take place in 2009. These difficulties were eventually resolved during the negotiations that took place in Doha, Qatar from 17 to 20 May 2008. The negotiations were attended by senior representatives from all of Lebanon's major political parties, and the agreement confirmed that Suleiman would be the preferred candidate in the presidential election.[10]
When the vote was finally held in Parliament on 25 May 2008, Suleiman was elected with a majority of 118 votes out of 127.[11] He was indirectly elected by the Lebanese Parliament, which hadn't had a session, as a result of the ongoing political crisis in the country, for 18 months. Parliament's session was attended by senior representatives from across Lebanon, the Arab region, the United Nations and the European Union, the United States, European states and many other countries. In his acceptance speech which was welcomed by all political figures across the country, the Arab region and the rest of the world, Suleiman spoke of "uniting and working towards a solid reconciliation of the country. We have paid dearly for our national unity. Let us preserve it hand-in-hand".[12] He also made reference to the long-standing crisis between the country's two main political camps when he said that "the people have given us their confidence to fulfill their aspirations, not to afflict them with our petty political disputes".[13]
Presidency
On 28 May 2008, President Suleiman reappointed Fouad Siniora as prime minister. Siniora was the parliamentary majority's candidate for the position, and Suleiman appointed him in accordance with the country's Constitution and with a majority of 68 MPs who named him.[14]
Shortly after assuming the presidency, Suleiman departed from tradition when he asked that posters bearing his likeness be removed from public display despite the fact that he thanked "citizens, institutions, municipalities and cultural organizations for the outpouring of support and affection".[15]
The priorities of Suleiman's presidential term were set out clearly, notably national reconciliation; affirming Lebanon's active role as a message of dialogue and conviviality; protecting the country's independence, unity and territorial integrity; providing security and favorable conditions for economic and social growth; reinforcing constitutional institutions; fighting terrorism; implementing international resolutions related to Lebanon; opposing any form of settlement for Palestinian refugees on the Lebanese territories.
Suleiman launched the table of national dialogue at the Presidential Palace in Baabda on 16 September 2008, in pursuance of the Doha Agreement's articles, and in view of consolidating National Reconciliation and Entente.
Parallel to local issues, Suleiman exchanged visits with heads of friendly countries, and took part in the work of regional and international organizations, especially the United Nations, in order to consecrate Lebanon's rights and defend its supreme interests.[16]
On Mary McAleese's final overseas visit as President of Ireland, she met Suleiman at the Presidential Palace in Baabda.[17][18][19][20] His presidency term came to its conclusion on 25 May 2014 amid no internal or foreign consensus on who would be elected as the next president of the Lebanese Republic. Lebanon remained without a president until Michel Aoun was elected on 31 October 2016.[21]
Decorations, medals, awards and honors
- National Order of the Cedar, Knight and Grand Cordon
- Lebanese Order of Merit, 3rd, 2nd and 1st grades
- Decoration of Military Pride, silver grade
- Medal of War
- Decoration of Military Valor, silver grade
- Decoration of the National Unity
- Decoration of the Dawn of the South
- Certificate of Honor of the Arab Union
- Decoration of Arab Union for Military Sports, 2nd degree (commander)
- Military Medal
- Internal Security forces' Medal
- General Security Medal
- State security Medal
- Commemorative Medal of Conferences for the year 2002
- Citations of the Armed Forces Commander, 4 times – Felicitations of the Armed Forces Commander, 18 times – Felicitations of the Brigade Commander, once[2]
Foreign honours
- Ukraine : Medal of the President of Ukraine – 2002
- Syria : Syrian Order of Merit, grade of excellence – 2010[22]
- Order of Saint-Charles (13 January 2011)[23]
- Russia : Medal from the Defense Ministry of the Republic of Russian Federation (2007)
- United Arab Emirates : Grand Cross of the Order of Zayed (10 February 2009)[24]
- Spain : Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (21 October 2009)[25]
- SMOM : Collar of the Order pro Merito Melitensi (2009)[26]
- Russia : Doctorate Honoris Causa from the Moscow State Institute for International Relations (MGIMO)- 2010
- Argentina : Doctorate Honoris Causa from the National University of the Third of February in Buenos Aires (UNTREF) – 2012[27]
- see his international decorations
Personal life
Michel Suleiman is married to Wafaa Suleiman and has three children.;[5] Rita, a dentist born in 1975, Lara, an architect born in 1978 and Charbel, a doctor born in 1983.[28] His mother tongue is Arabic and he is also fluent in both French and English.[5]
References
- ^ "Michel Sleiman - Prestige Magazine". 25 February 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f "Michel Suleiman". Lebanese Army Official Website. Archived from the original on 13 May 2008. Retrieved 17 April 2008.
- ^ Al Jazeera English. "Suleiman becomes Lebanon president". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 26 May 2008.
- ^ "Lebanon elects president after months of feuding". AFP. 25 May 2008. Archived from the original on 26 May 2008. Retrieved 25 May 2008.
- ^ a b c "Lebanese Armed Forces, CSIS (Page 78)" (PDF). 10 February 2009.
- ^ a b Gambill, Gary C. (1 July 2000). "Lebanon after Assad". Middle East Intelligence Bulletin. 2 (6). Retrieved 30 June 2012.
- ^ BBC (2 September 2007). "Lebanon PM welcomes end of siege". BBC News. Retrieved 28 May 2008.
- Yahoo News. Archived from the originalon 28 May 2008. Retrieved 25 May 2008.
- ^ Jack Khoury (12 June 2006). "Report: Israeli spy network in Lebanon uncovered". Retrieved 3 June 2008.
- ^ "The Doha Agreement". Now Lebanon. Archived from the original on 21 May 2009. Retrieved 21 May 2008.
- ^ "Lebanese parliament elects Suleiman as president". Chinaview. Archived from the original on 26 May 2008. Retrieved 25 May 2008.
- ^ "Lebanon's new president calls for unity". Agence France-Presse. Agence France-Presse. Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2008.
- ^ Ghattas, Sam (26 May 2008). "Lebanon elects head of state". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 14 May 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2008.
- ^ "Lebanon president names Siniora as PM of unity cabinet". Agence France-Presse. Agence France-Presse. Archived from the original on 31 May 2008. Retrieved 26 May 2008.
- ^ Elghossain, Anthony. "Suleiman calls for removal of posters bearing his likeness". The Daily Star (Lebanon). Retrieved 26 May 2008.
- ^ "Michel Suleiman Biography". Lebanese Presidency Official Website. Archived from the original on 18 December 2007. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
- ^ "McAleese to meet Irish troops in Lebanon on final official trip", The Journal 15 October 2011.
- ^ "President revisits Lebanon on her final foreign trip in office", The Irish Times, 15 October 2011.
- ^ "Mary McAleese concludes final overseas tour", RTÉ News, 16 October 2011.
- ^ "Last official trip abroad for Mary McAleese", Irish Examiner, 11 October 2011.
- ^ "Michel Aoun elected president of Lebanon". Al Jazeera.
- ^ President Michel Suleiman hosts Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdel Aziz Archived 29 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine Marada-news.org, 31 July 2010
- ^ Nomination by Sovereign Ordonnance Archived 31 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine n°3077 of 13 January 2011 (French)
- ^ Lebanese Presidency website, Decorations Archived 13 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine page, showing a photo of the decoration
- ^ "Royal Decree 1601/2009, 20 October". Retrieved 6 August 2020.
- ^ "Decorations and Medals - Presidency of the Republic of Lebanon". Archived from the original on 13 April 2012.
- ^ "His Excellency President General Michel Sleiman". Archived from the original on 8 May 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
- ^ "Wafaa Sleiman". Official Website of the Presidency of the Lebanese Republic.
External links
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- Michel Suleiman collected news and commentary at Al Jazeera English
- Michel Suleiman collected news and commentary at The Jerusalem Post