PSP Delegation Meets Karami: Jumblat Initiative Highlights Authority of State in Resolving Disputes
A Progressive Socialist Party delegation held talks on Thursday with former Prime Minister Omar Karami on party leader MP Walid Jumblat's initiative to persuade rival factions to return to the national dialogue.
Transportation and Public Works Minister Ghazi al-Aridi said after the meeting: “Our consultations with various factions is based on the initiative, which highlights the authority of the state in resolving disputes.”
The delegation also included Ministers Aleddine Terro and Wael Abou Faour and PSP Secretary Zafer Nasser.
Aridi added that the meeting with Karami stressed the need to maintain stability and peace in Lebanon.
All pending issues in Lebanon, including a national defense strategy and Hizbullah's possession of arms, can be tackled through “serious” dialogue among the Lebanese, he stated.
“No issue should be off limits and all sides should approach the all-party talks with an open mind,” he stressed.
For his part, Karami thanked the PSP delegation for its initiative “because we in Lebanon cannot live without freedom and democracy.”
Jumblat's initiative, which he issued in November, focuses on the need for the return of all political powers to dialogue, ending any boycott, and halting the tense media exchanges between the rival factions.
The assassination of Internal Security Forces Intelligence Branch chief Brig. Gen. Wissam al-Hasan on October 19 deepened the gap between the March 14 and 8 alliances.
The opposition boycotted political activity with its foes after it blamed Prime Minister Najib Miqati's government for covering up the crime, calling on it to step down and saying it would not sit at the same dialogue table with Hizbullah.
The PSP delegation has so far met with President Michel Suleiman, Miqati, Speaker Nabih Berri, Marada Movement leader MP Suleiman Franjieh, and Hizbullah, Jamaa Islamiya, Lebanese Democratic Party, and Lebanese Forces officials.
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