I Have Hurt Assad a Lot; I Would Like To Get Over It
Readers Number : 417
12/06/2009 The head of the democratic Gathering parliamentary bloc MP Walid Jumblatt stressed a new page of partnership must begin in Lebanon in the framework of a “secular, Arab and national project. However he added that “this is an unattainable illusion and abolishing political sectarianism is also impossible.”
Speaking to the AL-Akhbar daily, Jumblatt said he expected Future Movement chief MP Saad Hariri to become the new Prime Minister. However he wondered how Hariri will deal with the Shiites (Hezbollah) amid major regional developments and as Washington has set a one-year timeline to solve the Israeli-Palestinian issue. “Palestine is the main issue,” Jumblatt said.
“The only guarantee for Hezbollah’s arms is the persistence of dialogue until we reach – someday and in different circumstance – a way to contain the party’s military power in the state. There is only one guarantee: Dialogue,” Jumblatt added.
The Druze leader also underlined the necessity to pair partnership with abolishing polarization between March 14 and March 8 blocs. “Let us abolish it and give the President freedom of movement. It we cannot amend the President’s authorities, and we cannot amend the constitution, then at least let us give him freedom of movement, but not the obstructing one-third (11 ministers in a 30-minister cabinet).”
Jumblatt said that he adhered to rejection isolating any group in Lebanon stressing that one of the conditions for partnership was the participation of the opposition in the government.
He distinguished between Hariri’s readiness to talk to Syria and his (Jumblatt) own relation with Damascus. “There is no other way than talking to Syria, however my circumstances are different that Hariri’s. He can talk to them, but I cannot. (President) Bachar Assad has been assailed and harmed a lot. No one went to the extreme as I did. I would like to get over this because I believe a good Lebanese-Syrian relation is inevitable for reasons related to history and geography and because our ties with Syria has constituted our Arab depth since 1958 passing through 1982 and reaching the Taef Agreement. But any relation with Syria must be under the Taef Accord.
Readers Number : 417
12/06/2009 The head of the democratic Gathering parliamentary bloc MP Walid Jumblatt stressed a new page of partnership must begin in Lebanon in the framework of a “secular, Arab and national project. However he added that “this is an unattainable illusion and abolishing political sectarianism is also impossible.”
Speaking to the AL-Akhbar daily, Jumblatt said he expected Future Movement chief MP Saad Hariri to become the new Prime Minister. However he wondered how Hariri will deal with the Shiites (Hezbollah) amid major regional developments and as Washington has set a one-year timeline to solve the Israeli-Palestinian issue. “Palestine is the main issue,” Jumblatt said.
“The only guarantee for Hezbollah’s arms is the persistence of dialogue until we reach – someday and in different circumstance – a way to contain the party’s military power in the state. There is only one guarantee: Dialogue,” Jumblatt added.
The Druze leader also underlined the necessity to pair partnership with abolishing polarization between March 14 and March 8 blocs. “Let us abolish it and give the President freedom of movement. It we cannot amend the President’s authorities, and we cannot amend the constitution, then at least let us give him freedom of movement, but not the obstructing one-third (11 ministers in a 30-minister cabinet).”
Jumblatt said that he adhered to rejection isolating any group in Lebanon stressing that one of the conditions for partnership was the participation of the opposition in the government.
He distinguished between Hariri’s readiness to talk to Syria and his (Jumblatt) own relation with Damascus. “There is no other way than talking to Syria, however my circumstances are different that Hariri’s. He can talk to them, but I cannot. (President) Bachar Assad has been assailed and harmed a lot. No one went to the extreme as I did. I would like to get over this because I believe a good Lebanese-Syrian relation is inevitable for reasons related to history and geography and because our ties with Syria has constituted our Arab depth since 1958 passing through 1982 and reaching the Taef Agreement. But any relation with Syria must be under the Taef Accord.
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