What did Jumblat discuss with Jolani in Damascus visit?
As he visited Damascus on Saturday, Druze leader Walid Jumblat discussed with Syrian rebel leader Abou Mohammad al-Jolani thirteen points that would help pave the way for a new era in relations.
A longtime critic of the old Syrian regime, Jumblat expressed hope that Lebanese-Syrian relations "will return to normal" as he reportedly discussed with Jolani, who now prefers to be called by his real name Ahmad al-Sharaa, many Lebanese-Syrian issues, including the abolition of the Syrian-Lebanese Supreme Council - a joint council supervising a 1992 cooperation and coordination treaty between Syria and Lebanon.
The PSP’s al-Anbaa news portal said Monday that Jumblat called for the abolition of the Syrian-Lebanese council, for a land and sea border demarcation between the two countries, for closing illegal crossings to prevent smuggling, and for fair trials against those involved in crimes and assassinations in Lebanon.
- Assassinations blamed on Syria -
Jumblat's father, Kamal Jumblat was assassinated in 1977 in his car near Baakline by unidentified gunmen suspected to be members of the pro-Syrian faction of the Lebanese Syrian Social Nationalist Party, in collaboration with the Ba'ath Party.
In 2005, Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was assassinated by a bomb in Beirut, blamed on Syria and Hezbollah. His assassination sparked protests that ousted Syrian troops from Lebanon. Following Hariri's killing, several anti-Syrian figures were assassinated, including Samir Qassir, George Hawi, Gebran Tueni, Pierre Amine Gemayel, Antoine Ghanem and Walid Eido. Others escaped assassination attempts including Elias Mur, May Chidiac, and Samir Shehade.
- The disputed Shebaa Farms -
Jubmlat and Jolani also discussed Saturday the disputed Israeli-occupied Shebaa Farms, with al-Anbaa reporting that Jumblat told Jolani that he considers the Shebaa Farms a Syrian territory, since they are considered Syrian by the international community.
In 1967, Israel invaded and occupied the Golan and the Shebaa Farms. U.N. resolution 242 issued by the Security Council on November 22, 1967 considered all territories occupied by Israel as Syrian territories. Lebanon says the Farms are Lebanese.
Source: Naharnet
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