Jumblat to Cut Ties with Syrian Regime Completely, Supports Cabinet

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat stressed on Thursday that he decided to boycott the Syrian regime once and for all, whether President Bashar Assad remained in power or he resigned.

“I’d rather end my life while I am at a rift with the Syrian regime,” Jumblat told As Safir newspaper.

He noted that he will never contact the Syrian regime or Assad, saying: “I am relieved with my decision which comes in accordance with my convictions and beliefs.”

“I might lose politically but I would gain myself back eventually,” Jumblat told the daily.

Relations between Jumblat and the Assad regime witnessed deterioration after the assassination of ex-Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005, but the PSP chief visited again the Syrian president in 2010 to boost their ties.

However, after the year-long March 2011 revolt against Bashar Assad in Syria, Jumblat had voiced his support to the people criticizing the regime.

Concerning his relations with Hizbullah, the Druze leader confirmed that there are ongoing contacts with the party.

“We’ve managed to overcome the tension and set a settlement based on excluding any sectarian dispute,” Jumblat stated.

However, the PSP leader criticized the March 14 leaders’ wager on the collapse of the Syrian regime in an attempt to score victories without exerting efforts to launch a dialogue with Hizbullah and AMAL.

“This logic will not lead to any results,” Jumblat said.

On the arms of Hizbullah, he voiced his support to the issue “until a political settlement would put these weapons under the custody of the state… If we were ever destined to form one.”

“This issue shouldn’t remain a point of contention” between the Lebanese parties, Jumblat added.

Asked if he will meet with ex-Prime Minister Saad Hariri soon, he said: “A meeting like this would have its political price that I’m not ready to pay… I am satisfied with my current situation and will remain in this cabinet with all its flaws.”