Lebanese rival political leaders convened on Monday a national dialogue session under the chairmanship of President Michel Suleiman, emphasizing stability and coexistence in Lebanon amid the violence rocking neighboring Syria, National News Agency reported.

The sixth session of the National Dialogue was held at the presidential palace in Baaba after an 18-month suspension, in the absence of Finance Minister Mohammad Safadi, Head of Almustaqbal Movement and former Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Lebanese forces leader Samir Geagea.

The political rivals voiced their commitment to respecting the Taif Agreement, which was signed in 1989 to end the decades-long Lebanese civil war, the presidency's media office said in a statement after the session.

They also agreed to commit to dialogue, reinforce stability and maintain civil peace, adding that Lebanon should commit to " controlling the situation along the Syrian-Lebanese border."

The political leaders voiced support for the judiciary and called for implementing plans to develop economy in different Lebanese areas. "They also call on the Lebanese people to refrain from violence and support the army and its mission," according to the statement.

The participants agreed to resume looking into a mechanism to implement decisions taken during previous national dialogue sessions and scheduled another session for June 25.

A copy of the agreements will be sent to the Arab League and the United Nations, the statement said.

Suleiman stressed in his opening speech on the positivity of previous national dialogue session and prospects of the next stage.

Stressing the importance of stability, the president said " Stability is crucial at this time... from all surrounding considerable political, economic and security crises."

Unrest in the Middle East region, the Syrian crisis with its impact on Lebanon, as well as the ongoing Israeli threats against Lebanon, were "major threats" that required the holding of dialogue conference, Suleiman said.

This session comes amid fears that tensions in northern Lebanon 's Tripoli neighborhoods of Sunni Bab el Tebbaneh and Alawite Jabal Mohsen and gunfights between armed groups in various parts of the country might push Lebanon to the brink of civil war.

The meeting was preceded by closed-door talks between Suleiman and Prime Minister Najib Miqati and later between the president and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.