Aridi Says No Contact between Jumblat and Syria

Public Works Minister Ghazi Aridi confirmed on Sunday that relations between Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat and the Assad regime have reached a low point over the situation in Syria.

In remarks to pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat, Aridi said: “Contacts between MP Walid Jumblat and the Syrian regime have been cut over the differences on the situation in Syria.”

Asked if he had tried to reach Syrian authorities lately, the minister, who is also a PSP official, said: “I haven’t tried to contact them and haven’t asked for a meeting and in their turn they haven’t contacted us.”

“A military and security solution in Syria would only lead to more complication,” he told the newspaper.

Aridi said the Syrian crisis would not end unless the government adopts a political situation. “The more this solution comes late, the higher the price will be.”

Jumblat said on Tuesday that the crisis in Syria “cannot be resolved through security measures, but by introducing a radical change to the ruling regime.”

Aridi wondered why Jumblat would be criticized for preaching a political solution while Russia, which is Damascus’ top ally, is also advising it to give up the deadly crackdown.

The U.N. estimates that more than 5,000 people have been killed since the crisis erupted in March.