Jumblat: I am Staying in Majority, Syrian Bloodshed Should Stop
Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat said Friday that he is staying with the Majority, stressing that the National Struggle Front will vote for funding the Special tribunal for Lebanon.
In an interview on Al-Manar, Jumblat asked Syria to stop bloodshed and oppression, stating that he is "not convinced with the reforms," but did stress that he did not break ties with Damascus.
"When I met Syrian President Bashar Assad, I was honest on the necessity to reach a political solution," Jumblat said, asking to stop the" bloodshed and oppression which is happening every day, and innocent people are being killed."
He asked Syria to cease fire, and to start with true reform on its territories. " The regime should condemn the attack on the Syrian forces, release the prisoners" Jumblatt added, stressing on the necessity to condemn any demand of foreign intervention by the opposition and to allow the press to cover all Syrian regions."
He added that he is not worried about the division of the region, "but when we talk about the logic of minorities, we are dividing it."
On the Christians in Syria, Jumblat was surprised at their fear. "The Christians are the founders of revolutions, and it is not right for them to be afraid. They were at the forefront of Arab renaissances. Why are they afraid in Syria."
On the Lebanese issue, Jumblat assured of his good relations with Hizbullah " although we have different views, but this does not affect the good strategic relations we have."
"I have my own views on the Syrian and Arab revolutions" he said, adding that " we must keep up the pace with the regional developments."
Jumblat voiced his support of the "army, people and resistance" principle, "but the day will come when we will have to study a defense strategy."
The PSP leader refused to link Hizbullah's arms with the Palestinian naturalization, stressing that " weapons should be used solely to defend the state."
"We want to demarcate our borders in order to achieve liberation."
When asked about his current political position, Jumblat clearly stated that he is staying within the majority.
On the STL issue, Jumblatt said: "My parliamentary bloc will vote for funding the STL because there is a different public opinion which wants to know who made these gruesome assassinations and this is their right," hoping that a settlement on this issue can be reached.
On the economic level and the wage increase deal, the PSP leader wished more studies were done, and hoped that administrative reforms will be done soon.
"If we do not make any administrative reforms, we might have inflation like Greece," he said.
When asked about PM Najib Miqati, Jumblat said that he is doing an excellent job "to distance Lebanon from any International implications and not to let Lebanon be used against Syria."
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