Lebanon will not bow to any opinion, advice, or decision that pushes it towards internal strife, President of the republic, Michel Aoun, said in an address to the nation on the eve of Lebanon's 74th Independence Day on Tuesday.

"Independence is an assiduous work and an incessant struggle; it is the story of a people who paid a lot to remain sovereign and free-willed across a free land," Aoun said, vowing to endeavor to protect the country's sovereignty, independence, and stability, and to continue the state building process.

"I have already said in my oath that our top priority is to prevent the spillover of neighboring flames into Lebanon, and I have highlighted the necessity to keep Lebanon away from foreign conflicts and to respect the Arab League's Charter. Therefore, we have adopted an independent policy and avoided implication in conflicts; we have called for dialogue among the Arab brothers," he added.

"As the war broke out in Syria, terrorist organizations started to penetrate our eastern borders and to infiltrate into the Lebanese home in an attempt to take over as many towns and regions and possible," he continued.

"Despite our victory over terrorism and the liberation of our land, we still wonder: where did this terrorism come from? who did send and fund it? who did gear it up and why? isn't to shake stability and sow strife?" he asked.

"On the other hand, Israel is squatting in the southern borders, and its history with Lebanon is full of hostilities and destructive wars," he added.

"Today, [Israel] is violating our sovereignty, in the air and the sea and on the ground, flouting the international resolutions and threatening us with new wars," he said, calling the international community for a new approach building on justice and the right to auto-determination.

"Lebanon will not bow to any opinion, advice, or decision that leads it towards strife; he who wishes good for Lebanon had best help it protecting its unity for it is its safety valve," he underscored.

"It is in this context that the recent governmental crisis has erupted (...) it has constituted for the Lebanese people a shocking test and a major national challenge, over which we cannot remain silent," he stressed, adding that "sovereignty is one indivisible whole, whether on the ground or in the domestic and foreign policies."

"Amid the current turmoil around us, I would like to deliver a few messages, with all due honesty and sincerity. My first message is for the Arab brothers: dealing with Lebanon requires a lot of wisdom and rationality; the opposite only drags Lebanon towards fire. And despite everything that has happened, we are still pinning hope on the Arab League, in terms of taking the initiative to preserve itself and its member states, and to save its sovereignty and independence. I would also call the international community that is well aware of the importance of Lebanon's stability, to protect it, through the full implementation of international justice," he said.

"As to the Lebanese, I say: with your unity you overcame a lot of hardships and crises. Do not let strife emerge among you. Your unity is your salvation, your safety, your stability, the future of your nation and children. To our army and security forces, I say: you are the guardians of our internal unity and our borders, so be always ready to assume your duty," he said.

"We have all paid the highest prices so that we celebrate Independence Day after it was just a memory; so, enjoy your independence, protect it and preserve it. Long live Lebanon, a free, sovereign, and independent country," he concluded

Source: NNA