Jumblat Questions Proposals to Resume Coordination between Lebanese, Syrian Armies

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat criticized on Monday proposals to resume coordination between the Lebanese and Syrian armies.

He said in his weekly editorial in the PSP-affiliated al-Anbaa website: “What would such a suggestion achieve? Why should Lebanon help bolster the Syrian regime and its army after their credibility had reached their lowest points?”

He labeled the proposal as a “joke”, while questioning what motivated it and what purpose it would accomplish.

In early November, Syrian President Bashar Assad had stated that coordination between the Lebanese and Syrian armies would ease the security burdens on both countries and bolster Lebanon's stability.

Head of the Lebanese Democratic Party, MP Talal Arslan, had on Saturday said that refusing this coordination would jeopardize Lebanon's security.

Commenting on the case of policemen and soldiers kidnapped from the northeastern border town of Arsal in August, Jumblat wondered at the accusations against him over his stance on the issue.

“It is strange how some sides are attempting to portray us as seeking to achieve sectarian gains,” he added, while noting that the captives belong to different sects.

Why are some sides attempting to tarnish a national issue with sectarianism? he asked.

“It is also odd how some ministerial sides were annoyed with the PSP's role in the Arsal captives' case. It is as if we should not provide assistance in resolving this matter, which is tantamount to a national tragedy,” remarked the lawmaker.

He therefore stressed that the ministerial committee tasked with tackling the case should unify its stances and put an end to voices of the doubters.

“We should not halt negotiations, but unify them in order to reach our goal of liberating the servicemen,” Jumblat stated.

The soldiers and policemen were abducted by Islamists from Syria in the wake of clashes in Arsal in August.

A number of them have since been released, three were executed, while the rest are still being held by the gunmen.

The families of the servicemen have repeatedly accused the government of failing to exert enough efforts to release them.

Jumblat surprised on Sunday his followers on twitter by announcing that he is ready to personally negotiate in the kidnapped servicemen's case.

Jumblat tweeted on his official twitter account: “Stop the nerve war on the families of the kidnapped servicemen.”

"I would personally go to Arsal and negotiate,” he added.

M.T.

G.K.