Jumblat Assures He’ll ‘Never’ Visit Damascus, Calls for Dropping Discussion on Hizbullah’s Arms
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.
Source: Naharnet
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