Naharnet

Jumblat Urges Dialogue, Review of People-Army-Resistance Formula

Progressive Socialist Party chief Walid Jumblat called on Monday for the resumption of national dialogue among the country's bickering leaders while stressing a review of a clause in the government policy statement that stresses the right of the “people, army and resistance to liberate” Lebanese territories.

Hizbullah's “arms are a major point of contention,” Jumblat said at a press conference he held in Mukhtara to announce an initiative that would bring back the March 8 majority and March 14 opposition alliances to the dialogue table.

"But after the resumption of dialogue there should be a new formula because we can't continue to stick to this formula that is unclear and mixes between the resistance and the army,” he said.

“The state is the authority and if anyone has a magic solution to the arms, then let him inform us,” Jumblat said.

The policy statement of the government says the government adheres to the right of Lebanon through its people, army and resistance to liberate the Shebaa Farms, Kfarshouba hills and the Lebanese part of the village of Ghajar.

But Jumblat rejected the liberation of Lebanese lands in inappropriate ways and criticized the so-called Ayoub drone that Hizbullah sent over Israeli territories in October to serve “things outside Lebanon.”

“We don't want the Islamic Republic to use Lebanon to improve its position in the negotiations with the U.S. the same way we don't want Arab axes to use Lebanon to fight” Iran, he said.

Jumblat said his initiative lies in calling on all sides to abide by the Baabda Declaration - made in June after the first national dialogue in over 18 months - in which rival political leaders pledged to commit themselves to dialogue and political, security and media pacification, avoid speeches that fuel sectarian incitement and bolster stability to prevent Lebanon from sliding into sectarian strife.

In his initiative, Jumblat called for ending media and violent political rhetoric, and avoiding the involvement in the battle “field” of the Syrian crisis.

He stressed the initiative is part of the efforts made by President Michel Suleiman to resume the national dialogue in cooperation with Speaker Nabih Berri.

Contact between the March 14 opposition alliance and the Hizbullah-led March 8 majority was shaken following the Oct. 19 assassination of Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau chief Wissam al-Hasan in a car bomb explosion in Beirut's Ashrafiyeh district.

The opposition, which blamed Miqati's government and accused Syria of carrying out the killing, boycotted parliamentary activity, demanding the resignation of the cabinet, and said it would not sit at the national dialogue table with Hizbullah.

But Jumblat defended Miqati, saying he shouldn't be blamed for al-Hasan's assassination.

He also cited several achievements made by the government, including the funding of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and the protection of figures close to ex-PM Saad Hariri, who is the head of al-Mustaqbal movement and the leading component of the March 14 opposition.

Jumblat, who is a centrist and has several ministers loyal to him, reiterated that the formation of a “neutral government” as called for by some sides would not be successful without the consultation of all parties.

“This takes us back to the dialogue table,” he said, adding he would rename Miqati for the premiership if there was no deal between the different factions on a certain cabinet formula.

The PSP chief further criticized the opposition in its continued accusation of Hizbullah of involvement in former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri's Feb. 2005 assassination.

Four Hizbullah members have been indicted by the STL. But “is it necessary to remind (the people) of that every minute?” he wondered.

“Don't some people realize that this reminder increases divisions between the two (Sunni and Shiite) sects,” he questioned.

“Justice will someday prevail,” he said.

Jumblat also criticized Hizbullah in that respect, saying the party should provide evidence to the international tribunal if it believes that Israel assassinated Hariri.

He stressed however that he had an “excellent relationship” with Hizbullah.


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