BEIRUT, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese President Michel Suleiman Wednesday called for internal dialogue and reconciliation to achieve national unity, local daily Star reported Thursday.

    "There will be no reconciliation without dialogue and no dialogue without reconciliation," the president told a delegation from the Lebanese press federation.

    Suleiman will chair national dialogue sessions at the presidential palace, but no date has been set yet, the report said.

    Lebanese pro-government and opposition leaders are at odds regarding internal and external issues.

    The president told the reporters that "bread and security are extremely important for all Lebanese," adding that there will be more efforts on these two issues.

    As for Lebanese-Syrian relations, Suleiman said that relations between Beirut and Damascus should be "based on honesty."

    The two states have agreed to establish diplomatic ties for the first time in Aug. 13 since their independence around 60 years ago.