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GV Helicopter fly past at start of parade
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LV/CU Pres. Suleiman Franjieh & Premier Salam seated
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SV Troops march past in parade
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SV Alpine troops followed by police (2 shots)
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AV Jets fly past
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SV Armoured vehicles towing guns past camera (3 shots)
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SV Tanks in parade (2 shots)
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Initials BB/2310 TA/AW/BB/2147



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Lebanon's President Suleiman Franjieh attended a military parade in Beirut on sunday (21 November) held to mark his country's 28th anniversary of independence.

He was accompanied by Premier Salam and other Government officials as he watched divisions of Lebanon's armed forces march past official dais.

SYNOPSIS: In Beirut on sunday, a military parade to mark Lebanon's 28th anniversary of independence was attended by President Suleiman Franjieh and Premier Salam. In a later speech to the people, President Franjieh said he had kept his year-old promise of protecting the country's democracy and allowing his people full liberty within the law.

The President was later to stress his determination to preserve the authority of the law and said that violators would not be tolerated.

In a reference to the future of his country, President Franjieh said that more schools had been built and that Lebanon's general standard of education had been improved. He added that a comprehensive development scheme would transform the country into a workshop within its system of free enterprise. At the same time, he added, the Government would work to ensure money for the State Treasury without levying more taxes on the people.

President Franjieh said that on the foreign level, Lebanon would continue a policy of openness towards the world at large while supporting the policies of the United Nations and working towards peace. Lebanon, he said, would also maintain its relations with all Arab countries, while working quietly for the Palestine cause.