Jumblat Says Syria's Conflict 'Bigger' than Lebanese Politics, Urges its Opposition to Maintain Talks with Russia

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat stated on Monday that Syria's war is more significant than the different Lebanese political factions, urging the neighboring country's opposition “not to fall in the trap of cutting all communication with Russia”.

“We call for an actual application of the policy of disassociation towards Syria's events,” Jumblat said in his weekly editorial in the PSP-affiliated al-Anbaa website, explaining that “the higher national interest requires a reconsideration of this policy”.

He elaborated: “Getting involved in Syria's conflict will transport all its negative consequences into Lebanon”.

"Any Lebanese participation in the field war will be insignificant and will not have an effect on its outcome,” he expressed.

Lebanese parties are sharply divided over the crisis in Syria as the March 8 alliance continuously expresses its support to Syrian President Bashar Assad, while the March 14 camp voices its support for the popular revolt.

The international community and analysts have expressed fears that the conflict in Syria may spill over into Lebanon.

Since the Syrian uprising began in March 2011, there have been numerous deadly clashes along the northern and eastern borders of Lebanon, usually between the Syrian army and armed Syrian or Lebanese groups backing the rebellion against the regime in Damascus.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the rebel Free Syria Army threatened to shell Hizbullah military bases in Lebanon after accusing it of firing across the border into territory it controls.

General Selim Idriss, the FSA's chief of staff, told Agence France Presse that Hizbullah had shelled villages around Qusayr, which is located in the central Syrian province of Homs, from the border village of Zeita, a Hizbullah stronghold in the Bekaa valley of Lebanon.

The PSP leader said that Lebanon's mission is limited to taking care of refugees fleeing the neighboring country by providing what is necessary “for a decent life in respect to the country's obligations towards international agreements and the Declaration of Human Rights”.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said on Friday that at least 305,753 refugees have fled warn-torn Syria and came to Lebanon since the start of the country's conflict.

Jumblat wondered whether some international powers are encouraging long-term internal Syrian clashes by arming the FSA “to fight the regime on one hand, and different internal factions on the other”.

"Is the West seeking to destruct what is left from the Russian influence in the region at the expense of Syria's people and the country's legacy?” he asked.

"We encourage the opposition to keep communication ongoing with Russia and not to fall into the trap of seeking to eliminate the nation's influence,” Jumblat added.