​The National Dialogue Committee resumed its works on the 16th of August, 2012 at the presidential summer residence of Beit Eddine chaired by His Excellency the President of the Republic General Michel Sleiman  and with the participation of the dialogue parties. Absent from the session were Speaker Nabih Berri, former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Vice-Speaker Farid Makari, MP Suleiman Franjieh and Dr. Samir Geagea.
The President inaugurated the meeting by summarizing the outcome of his visits to some friend countries and by going over the developments that have occurred since the last session of the National Dialogue Committee on the 25th of June, 2012 addressing as well the issues that led to the suspension of its work on the 24th of July.
His Excellency the President of the Republic noted in particular that the UN Security Council, the European Union Council, and many brotherly and friend countries commended “Baabda Declaration”, which was submitted as an official document to the United Nations as well as the call to resume the National Dialogue works and to encourage political leaders to advance in this dialogue in order to support stability and development. President Sleiman stressed the importance of adhering to “Baabda Declaration”,  in particular in terms of Keeping Lebanon neutral.
President Sleiman also stressed the necessity to adhere to the enforced laws and to resort to the legitimate institutions, rejecting any form of chaos and lawlessness, emphasizing the importance of following up the diligent efforts deployed by the State to address the issue of the Lebanese kidnapped in legitimate and appropriate ways.
Following the deliberations, the attendees agreed on the following:
1 - Postponing addressing the proposal of a national defense strategy because of the absence of a number of members from this session of the National Dialogue Committee, namely  House Speaker Nabih Berri and following-up preparations to devise this proposal with the participation of all dialogue parties. 
2 – Wishing upon  the Lebanese government to take all necessary measures to impose security on all the Lebanese territories, in order to preserve stability, the conditions for development and Lebanon's international status, and namely by forming a delegation from the national dialogue committee to deploy efforts along with other influential states to address the issue of the Kidnapped Lebanese in in Syria, in order to secure their release and return safe and sound. Keenness on these fraternal ties with these states was asserted.
3 - Ensuring a convenient environment for the success of the visit of the Pope to Lebanon and that from the fourteenth of next September, consecrating the atmosphere of national concord among all components of the Lebanese people which would prove to the world public opinion Lebanon's success in maintaining the particularity of its role and its message as a country of freedom, coexistence and dialogue.
4 – Setting the next session to take place on Thursday, September 20, 2012 at  11:00 a.m. as an initial date for the next meeting of the National Dialogue Committee to further discuss the national defense strategy as set out in the agenda of the Committee.