Jumblat Hails PSP’s Participation in March 14 Independence Revolution

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat said Sunday that the reconciliation with former Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir and the PSP’s participation in the March 14 forces had a positive impact on the party.

The reconciliation was “illuminating,” Jumblat said in a speech at his party’s general assembly in Aley.

He also cited as a major accomplishment, “the rejection to renew former President Emile Lahoud’s term and the PSP’s modest participation in the March 14 independence revolution.”

Jumblat rejected the violation of Lebanon’s borders by Syrian troops and urged Lebanese officials to return to the dialogue table to discuss the country’s defense strategy.

Lebanese and Syrian security forces should cooperate in stopping the alleged smuggling of weapons, Jumblat said.

He also rejected what he called “the violations of the border” in reference to the recent infiltrations of Syrian troops into towns in northern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa valley.

Turning to the disappearance of Syrian opposition member Shebli al-Aisamy in Aley in May, Jumblat said the abduction by the armed thugs of a diplomatic mission is rejected.

According to Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ashrafi Rifi, the head of the Syrian embassy guard unit, First Lt. Salah Hajj, was the ringleader of a group that abducted four Syrian brothers from the Jassem family.

Rifi also drew similarities between that case and that of al-Aisamy’s disappearance.

Jumblat said Lebanese officials should resume their discussions at the national dialogue table at Baabda palace to discuss the defense strategy.

The lawmaker also called for the demarcation of the Shabaa farms borders.

On the issue of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, the PSP chief said the funding of the STL is “essential” for stability in the country. He along with President Michel Suleiman and Premier Najib Miqati has backed the funding of the court despite the rejection of the Hizbullah-led March 8 forces.

Addressing the situation in Syria, the PSP chief urged Syrian authorities to stop firing on civilians and condemned attacks on the army. He also called for the release of all political prisoners and said the Assad regime should hold accountable those opening fire on protestors.

Syria is in turmoil since March, when protestors began holding demonstrations to call for the collapse of the regime. But the Syrian president has cracked down on protestors leaving 3,000 people dead.

Syrian authorities should introduce reform, adopt a new constitution and launch dialogue which alone guarantees a solution to all differences, Jumblat said.

“Hereditary republics should turn into constitutional republics,” he stressed.

On internal PSP issues, Jumblat announced that he would only run as head of the party one last time.

“We should consider the new council to be elected as transitional … until we reach new elections which shouldn’t take more than one year,” he said.