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Lebanon was in a festive mood yesterday. The scene at the Lebanese parliament as General Michel Sulaiman was elected president summed up the new era.
Officials and dignitaries from around the world - including foes Iran and the United States, Arab rivals Syria and Saudi Arabia, and foreign ministers of most European states - attended the election session to show their support for the new administration.
This show of support and confidence in the country's yet to be tested stability will hopefully help Lebanon bury its sharp political and sectarian division.
Across the country, people danced in the streets and others distributed sweets to passing motorists. Hope for a better future engulfed a community which was on the brink of a new civil war just two weeks ago. The Lebanese seem to be genuinely happy for the first time in three years.
As in any other country, the Lebanese people want peace and a secure living environment for their families. Their country is one of the most beautiful little states in the world. It is a destination for tourists and always cited as an example of co-existence between religions. We almost lost it. We hope this time its leaders have learned a lesson.
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