Jumblat Stresses ‘Urgent Reform’ in Syria, Rejects to Provide ‘Good Conduct’ Report

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat reiterated on Friday that he has advised the Syrian leadership to quickly implement reforms rather than cracking down on protestors.

In remarks to As Safir daily, he said: “The Syrian regime should adopt qualitative and urgent reform steps.”

“This is my advice but they are free in taking the appropriate decision,” the Druze leader said.

Jumblat’s remarks came after he dispatched Public Works Minister Ghazi Aridi to Damascus where he met with the assistant of the Syrian vice president, Maj. Gen. Mohammed Nassif, As Safir said.

The PSP chief also denied that he had changed his stance on Hizbullah’s arms, saying he holds onto his theory that the state should gradually absorb the weapons when the party decides on such a move and when the political and military circumstances are ripe.

But until then, the army-people-resistance equation remains valid, he said.

Jumblat stressed however that putting Hizbullah’s arms under the control of the state is a must and would lead to the full establishment of the state by giving it the right to make war and peace decisions.

Asked what he meant by telling an Egyptian TV earlier in the week that he had a gun pointed at his head, the lawmaker said he was speaking about the period when he was a member of the March 14 forces whose supporters were being targeted in bombing attacks.

“I was describing the difficult circumstances of the period between 2004 and 2008,” he told As Safir. “I didn’t intend to hint that I fell out of March 14 and moved to another position under pressure.”

He also rejected being forced into proving his “good conduct from time to time.”

“I am not in a position to sit at periodic exams or carry out blood tests to check my political choices,” Jumblat added.