Jumblat Urges March 14 to Attend All-Party Talks, Slams Opposition’s Policy
Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat slammed on Friday the March 14-led oppositions’ stance over the national dialogue, stressing the importance of all-party talks to resolve all disputed issues.
“We have to resolve our disputes and reduce political tension,” Jumblat told An Nahar newspaper.
He urged those who are hesitating to attend the national dialogue session on Monday to participate, saying: “Nothing is impossible… We can reach a defense strategy that would allow Lebanon to benefit from the arms of the resistance.”
“Frankly I don’t understand the March 14 forces and the way they are handling this issue… Their stance is unfortunately sad, shameful and funny,” Jumblat said.
He called on the opposition to attend the all-party talks at the Baabda Palace as “some of them are trying to evade their responsibilities.”
Concerning the cabinet solution for the overspending crisis, the Druze leader voiced his support to the agreement.
“We support the agreement under the sponsorship of President Michel Suleiman as there are key issues that we can no longer obstruct,” Jumblat told As Safir newspaper.
The cabinet approved on Thursday LL10,394 billion to cover the expenses of state institutions in 2012 and LL600 billion to carry out development projects in Tripoli and other areas across Lebanon, a major breakthrough following months of wrangling on the extra-budgetary spending.
Jumblat hoped that Speaker Nabih Berri would exert efforts to find a settlement over the $11 billion spent by the previous governments between 2006 and 2009.
On the recent clashes in the northern city of Tripoli between the rival Sunni neighborhood of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Alawite Jabal Mohsen, Jumblat called on all Lebanese parties to support the cabinet’s decision to disassociate the country from the turmoil in Syria.
He told An Nahar newspaper that the March 14 forces and the March 8 camp should stop funding the different factions in Tripoli and arming them.
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