Jumblat Assures He’ll ‘Never’ Visit Damascus, Calls for Dropping Discussion on Hizbullah’s Arms
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat assured on Tuesday that he is not going to Damascus, stressing also that he “is still a centrist.”
“I am never going to Damascus,” Jumblat said in an interview on LBCI television, denying reports that claimed he was reaching out to President Bashar Assad's regime.
He elaborated: “I am still a centrist amid this division in politics, between religious sects and regarding the war in Syria.”
“I want to neutralize Lebanon from the repercussions of the Syrian crisis and I am trying alongside President Michel Suleiman, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati and Speaker Nabih Berri to fend off the dangers.”
Jumblat explained that unlike other political figures that thought the neighboring country’s regime would collapse, he “knew it would be a long war.”
He detailed: “I gathered my information from (former Syrian army chief of staff Lt. Gen.) Hikmat al-Shihabi and he told me that Syria is heading towards a war.”
“The Syrian regime aggravated imprisonments and killings until the revolution turned into a sectarian war.”
The PSP leader considered that the Friends of Syria “disappointed” the revolutionaries due to the presence of “different agendas.”
“What is required is stopping the smuggling of Takfiris into the country, uniting the financing and the military efforts of the Free Syrian Army, and sending a single delegation that represents all factions to attend the Geneva II summit.”
“Whatever were the difficulties, not attending the Geneva II summit is a mistake because it would send a message that the regime is fighting Takfiris only,” he remarked, pointing out also that extremists were “created” by the regime itself.
Jumblat revealed that he had asked United States Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman for weapons to be given to the FSA.
“But I did not get a positive response,” he said. “I still believe that the FSA is the solution, with the participation of Syria’s army.”
Regarding the effect of the neighboring country’s war on Lebanon, Jumblat expressed that he recommends a “partial neutralization.”
“I urge a partial neutralization like forgetting about Hizbullah's weaponry and in case it was up for discussion, let's hold national dialogue sessions to tackle it,” he explained.
He continued: “We should not suspend other issues in the country awaiting Hizbullah's withdrawal from Syria. We should reduce the damage.”
“There are topics that we cannot have a decision over, like the possession of weapons and getting involved in the Syrian war on both sides of the conflict. Let us leave these issues aside and deal with daily matters that concerns citizens.”
“It is not in my powers, nor in (ex-PM) Saad Hariri's powers to withdraw Hizbullah's fighters from Syria,” he added.
“Hizbullah is a military and political reality. Let's forget about this issue.”
The Druze leader, however, slammed the party's role in the Syrian war as a “historical mistake.”
“(Hizbullah chief) Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has his own facts and I have my own political view. He is not a foreigner in the country but he is an extension of Iranian politics,” Jumblat said.
Regarding the cabinet’s formation, he announced he would name premier-designate Tammam Salam again to head the council of ministers, if another round of parliamentary consultations took place.
Jumblat also stressed that he rejects a de facto cabinet.
“I have informed Suleiman that I will not take part in a de facto cabinet because it is not respect the National Pact.”
“I support a consensual formula,” he clarified.
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05 November 2013, 22:35
Jumblat: I advise Hariri to return to Lebanon despite the security concerns. Let him stay at home.
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05 November 2013, 22:30
Jumblat: Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood did not leave their ideologies and get incorporated in the state and the new rulers should not be oppressive, such as in banning Bassem Youssef's program.
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05 November 2013, 22:24
Jumblat: I name premier-designate Tammam Salam to form a new cabinet if parliamentary consultation happen again. But this is not aimed at getting back at Miqati.
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05 November 2013, 22:16
Jumblat: I have informed Suleiman that I will not take part in a de facto cabinet because it is not respect the National Pact. I support a consensual formula.
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05 November 2013, 22:16
Jumblat: There are areas in Arsal where FSA and other armed groups are present and this is wrong. It is wrong to involve other groups to fight the regime at the expense of the FSA in Syria. And of course, I consider Hizbullah's involvement in Syria in a historical mistake.
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05 November 2013, 22:12
Jumblat: I advised President Michel Suleiman to go to Saudi Arabia and he has the wisdom to evaluate the situation and we have to wait for regional settlements.
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05 November 2013, 22:10
Jumblat: I prefer to have political differences in the cabinet.
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05 November 2013, 22:09
Jumblat: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry asked me to isolate Hizbullah in order to ask Obama to stop negotiating with Iran. All what they want is dialogue at the expense of Arabs. What is left in the Arab world is Saudi Arabia and hopefully Egypt's crisis ends.
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05 November 2013, 22:05
Jumblat: Hizbullah is a military and political reality. We have to deal with issues other than its weapons.
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05 November 2013, 22:04
Jumblat: It is not in my powers, nor in Saad Hariri's powers, to withdraw Hizbullah's fighters from Syria. Let's forget about this issue.
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05 November 2013, 22:02
Jumblat: There are topics that we cannot have a decision over, like the weapons, getting involved in the Syrian war on both sides of the conflict. Let us leave these issues aside and deal with daily matters that concerns citizens.
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05 November 2013, 22:01
Jumblat: (Saudi intelligence chief) Prince Bandar bin Sultan told (caretaker Minister of Social Affairs Wael) Abou Faour that Hizbullah cannot be absent from the components of the cabinet. He said he will consult former PM Hariri. Hariri had a positive response and then this answer was changed.
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05 November 2013, 22:00
Jumblat: I tried to promote the 8-8-8 cabinet equation but I did not succeed and later Berri proposed the 9-9-6.
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05 November 2013, 21:59
Jumblat commenting on Hizbullah chief's speech: Sayyed Nasrallah has his own facts and I have my own political view. We should be humble. He is not a foreigner in the country but he is an extension of the Iranian politics.
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05 November 2013, 21:57
Jumblat: Speaker Berri has the wisdom and courage and knowledge not to take any step forward at the parliament without the presence of its main components.
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05 November 2013, 21:57
Jumblat: I am still a centrist and I am trying alongside President Michel Suleiman and caretaker premier Miqati and Speaker Berri to fend off the dangers.
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05 November 2013, 21:56
Jumblat: I urge a partial neutralization in Lebanon like forgetting about Hizbullah's weaponry and in case it was up for discussion, we hold national dialogue session. For sure I call for redirecting the resistance's arms but we should not suspend the issues of petroleum and other matters awaiting Hizbullah's withdrawal from Syria. We should reduce the damage.
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05 November 2013, 21:54
Jumblat: I told U.S. Special Adviser for Regional Affairs Frederic Hof that Syria is heading towards a war and maybe divisions inside the country. He said he thinks so. That was in 2012.
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05 November 2013, 21:53
Jumblat: I asked U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman for weapons for the Free Syrian Army and I did not get a positive response. I still believe that the FSA is the solution, with the participation of the Syrian armed forces.
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05 November 2013, 21:52
Jumblat: The strong Arabian state of Syria is over and Arabs should get involved in the U.S.-Iranian talks to preserve what is left.
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05 November 2013, 21:50
Jumblat: The Friends of Syria demanded a transitional cabinet that controls security matters and the army. But how will Assad be convinced?
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05 November 2013, 21:48
Jumblat: The terrorists of the Syrian regime were created by it and it reminds me of Shaker al-Absi. It did so to tell the West that the regime is fighting terrorists.
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05 November 2013, 21:47
Jumblat: Whatever were the difficulties, not attending the Geneva II summit is a mistake because it would give the regime an excuse and it would send a message that it is only fighting Takfiris.
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05 November 2013, 21:46
Jumblat: U.S. President Barack Obama demanded the departure of Assad but he did not leave. Then the Syrian National Coalition was founded and was given a seat in the Arab League. What is required is stopping the smuggling of Takfiris and uniting the financing and the military efforts of the FSA and also a delegation representing all factions attending the Geneva II summit with a single political view.
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05 November 2013, 21:44
Jumblat: The Syrian regime exacerbated by imprisonment, in a security solution and by killings until the revolution turned into a sectarian war. The Friends of Syria disappointed the revolutionaries because there are different agendas like the Turkish, the Saudi and the Qatari. They are financing armed groups in the country.
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05 November 2013, 21:43
Jumblat: I gathered my information from former Syrian army chief of staff Lt. Gen. Hikmat al-Shihabi and he told me that Syria is heading towards a war. The situation is like Somalia now.
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05 November 2013, 21:42
Jumblat: Unlike others that thought the Syrian regime would collapse, I knew it would be a long war.
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05 November 2013, 21:41
Jumblat: I am still a centrist amid this vertical division in politics and between religious sects and regarding the war in Syria. All my options aim at neutralizing Lebanon from the Syrian crisis.
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05 November 2013, 21:41
Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat in an interview on LBCI: I am not going to Damascus and since the accord on caretaker PM Miqati's cabinet and before it, the goal was stability in the country. We had a misunderstanding with our allies.
05 November 2013, 22:39
96
It looks like, Iran is sitting pretty. The U.S. would be smart to break ties with the Arabs and re-kindle relationship with the Persians. At least, the majority of Iran is not divided, and the people have the resolve to stick together when it comes to Iranian interests.
06 November 2013, 03:02
45
The truth hurts, doesn't it? Don't kill the messenger. These comments are here to send a message and make a difference. So make the difference and unite. Put the Israels and the Persians to shame with you unity and tolerance of religion, sect, etc. It is easy to give thumbs down ha!
06 November 2013, 19:06
25
"the majority of Iran is not divided, and the people have the resolve to stick together when it comes to Iranian interests"
this is the very reason that the US wont do business with them. they prefer backward savages who fight each other and let themselves be ripped off without a peep.
06 November 2013, 21:37
15
ice-man:
Don't take it personally. Just go to Los Angeles and see what these people are all about. There are enough Persians in LA who represent the cross section of their community. On its face, they may not get along with each other, but when it matters the most, you better believe they are united. Otherwise, you are divided and conquered.
06 November 2013, 01:36
25
I suppose if all lebs were centrists, the fight will be over.
06 November 2013, 03:21
118
for those who havent watched the interview on TV, Jumblat actually seemed more confused than ever before... but in a calm way... Which means something very suspicious is going to happen in the coming months. However also for those who have their money in Lebanese Pounds or earn their income in that currency it is preferable to convert to USD as the presidency's issue in the coming months and especially at the beginning of next summer is going to affect the Lebanese Pound especially that it will occur at a time when the number of Syrian refugees will be double what it is today including other problems such as expenses due to clashes etc...
06 November 2013, 09:07
68
Yes, forget you have a gun pointed to your head and lets talk politics. Forget that if you don't comply with their agenda your car will be blown out the minute you arrive to Lebanon. Forget if you don't do what they tell you to blackshirts filled with thugs will flood the streets, forget when you stand up to speak your mind someone will pull that trigger killing you infront of the eyes of the Lebanese Army and they will do NOTHING.....
06 November 2013, 10:28
45
The poster's screen name is "formerlebaniz".... who gives you the right to refer to him as "currentisraeliz"?. Once again, you insult people for no reason except to appear funny or witty. What value did your insult bring to the poster's argument. If you disagree with him, you can express yourself in a normal civilized manner. You have been banned time and time again, yet you still come back with the same mentality and behavior. You come here to provoke and not debate. Grow up, you are very very disliked here!
06 November 2013, 14:12
67
as for jumby, i guess we should read "never" as "until the situation, or my mind, or the weather, changes"
06 November 2013, 16:25
73
Hala Hala bil Mukhtar:) Kifak.... what happened to your partition proposal? Have you moved to Dahiyeh next to your loved ones or not yet.
06 November 2013, 16:30
51
You can tell that everything political in Lebanon is in flux because Jumblatt is on every side of every issue. He is in the middle because it is a shorter distance to jump, if necessary, and he finds himself on the wrong side. So stay in the middle lane is best when the road is curvy.
How does the Syrian War end?? There are two wars, one for the Regime and then once that is won, then to defeat the Islamists who have moved in and taken advantage of the chaos in the country.
06 November 2013, 16:33
52
The first battle is won when Assad is either defeated, is killed, or is removed from power and taken into exile. Then the Syrian Army, security and intelligence services, along with the FSA can come together under the Geneva process, reform a secular government, and secure the country by jointy fighting and defeating the al Nusra Front and other Qaida types roving about in Eastern Syria.
06 November 2013, 17:16
62
momo seems to take it personally every time someone insults his idol. momo we have earned the right to call them ASSads until the end of time for the suffering they caused us. If you don't like it, rou7 ballet el ba7er you and the ASSads!
06 November 2013, 19:04
24
well done naharnet, dont censor the lamely disguised insult, censor the one who points it out :0
