Jumblat Urges Officials to Organize Differences, Safeguard Lebanon
Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat voiced hope on Friday that the Lebanese foes would be able to reach consensus to organize differences through the national dialogue table.
Sources close to Jumblat told the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat that he fears the Syrian crisis would spill over into Lebanon if the Lebanese didn’t safeguard their country.
He considers that there is no “alternative” to the all-party talks in order to halt the sectarian strife as any escalation would lead to a Sunni-Shiites rift.
“This is the reality and we can’t ignore it,” sources quoted him as saying.
The PSP leader warned that any strife between the Sunni and Shiites will not exclude the Christians.
On Monday, Lebanese foes resumed the national dialogue at the Baabda Palace under the sponsorship of President Michel Suleiman to maintain stability in the country.
The gatherers agreed to disassociate Lebanon from the international and regional conflicts, which entitled the cabinet to openly take a stance on the turmoil in the neighboring country Syria.
Jumblat noted that Hizbullah can’t be disarmed by force, urging officials to openly discuss the defense strategy.
He wondered, according to sources, why Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal movement don’t engage in dialogue similar to that sponsored by Suleiman.
Jumblat refused to corner Hizbullah as it will have to defend itself whatever the results of its actions were.
He suggested providing the party with guarantees to end its fears and reach consensus.
Concerning the opposition’s calls on the cabinet to resign, Jumblat said that he is against the resignation of Prime Minister Najib Miqati’s government.
“I will support Miqati again for the premiership if this cabinet collapsed… We either drown together or we save the country in cooperation with the president and the parliament,” the Druze leader pointed out.
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