Jumblat Lauds Syria's Muslim Brotherhood Declaration, Slams Fears of Islamist Movements
Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat praised on Monday the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood’s statement on the developments in their country, saying that it reflected the Sunni population’s openness to regional changes.
He said: “The Muslim Brotherhood demonstrated moderation, diversity, and equality.”
He made his remarks in Turkey where he took part in the Socialist International conference in Istanbul.
“This same openness has been demonstrated in the Muslim Brotherhood in Tunisia and Egypt, so why are there growing fears of Islamist movements?” wondered Jumblat.
Addressing Russia’s position on the Syrian crisis, he wondered: “Shouldn’t pleasing the Arab world, which has a Sunni majority, reflect positively on the former Soviet states that have a majority of Sunnis?”
“It is time to stop the statements of some Russian strategic analysts who have defended the Syrian regime at any cost,” added the PSP leader.
“Are Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s warnings over a civil war in Syria a way of making the Syrians choose between a settlement with the ruling regime or a potential war?” he asked.
“Is this the most Russia can do?” he wondered.
“It is strange how the Arab initiative on Syria, which called for ending the violence, releasing political prisoners, and withdrawing the army from the streets, has developed into demanding a two-hour ceasefire per day,” noted the Druze chief.
“Is this the most that the international community can do?” he continued.
Jumblat stressed the need for reaching a political solution to the Syrian crisis, warning that its continuation will lead to a civil war that will negatively affect the entire region.
He renewed the PSP’s position that the Syrian refugees in Lebanon need to be protected and provided with the necessary aid.
Syria's Muslim Brotherhood will share power and respect democracy if President Bashar Assad is toppled, its leader said on Sunday.
"The regime is trying to show that the Muslim Brotherhood are trying to control Syria alone," Mohammad Riad al-Shaqfa told a news conference in Istanbul in remarks translated into English.
"We want a democratic Syria and we do not want to control the country alone," he said, ahead of the international conference of "Friends of Syria," scheduled in Istanbul for April 1.
During his Turkey trip, Jumblat held talks with a delegation from the Syrian opposition before which he stressed the need for their unity and reaching a political solution to the crisis.
Upon his return to Lebanon, he commented on U.S. Treasury Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David Cohen’s recent visit to Lebanon, saying that he “supports sanctions against the Syrian regime, while keeping in mind the ongoing dispute between the U.S. administration and Hizbullah.”
He added however that he rejects targeting the funds of Lebanese in various banks around the world.
Cohen had warned Lebanese officials against allowing Syria or Iran to use their country to evade international sanctions.
He said the essential message that he delivered to the officials is that they should take the utmost precaution and be sure that Lebanon would not slide towards permitting Syria or Iran to use it in an attempt to evade the sanctions.
The American official held talks with Prime Minister Najib Miqati, Central Bank Governor Riyad Salameh and a number of representatives from the Lebanese banking sector last week.
Source: Naharnet
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