Jumblat Says Ahmadinejad's Visit Strengthened Lebanon's Steadfastness

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Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat has slammed those "who are still theorizing about Lebanon's neutralism under the emblem of keeping it away from axes, despite the fact that Lebanon is at the core of the region and directly and inevitably involved in its issues due to the factors of history and geography."

"The pretentious slogans that speak of Arab solidarity have proven their futility during the latest experience at the Serte (Arab) summit which failed in producing the minimum requirements for confronting the various challenges and difficulties," Jumblat added in his weekly column in his party's mouthpiece Al-Anbaa.

"As to Lebanon, it is committed to the truce agreement with Israel that was underlined by the Taif Accord, and it means suspending the state of war rather than going into a state of peace," said Jumblat, adding that "this necessitates enhancing Lebanon's defense capabilities in the face of any potential Israeli aggression."

He wondered if some want to "renounce the truce and head towards a settlement" with Israel that does not involve Syria and the Palestinian Authority.

Jumblat said that such a step invokes the May 17 Accord "which brought disasters to the country."

He noted that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's visit to Lebanon last week "contributes to enhancing steadfastness against any aggression."

The Druze leader reminisced "the major moral and material support offered by the Islamic Republic of Iran to Lebanon and its South."

He warned that "we are living a critical regional and international period."

"Regional tension is escalating and the so-called peace talks in the region are revolving in an empty circle, especially after … the new letter of guarantees recently sent by U.S. President Barack Obama to the Israeli premier."

Jumblat described his talks with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs Jeffrey Feltman on Sunday as "friendly and frank," noting that they discussed "all the issues and developments, especially the controversial issues."

"I expressed my point of view and concerns regarding many things related to the Arab-Israeli conflict and the domestic Lebanese affairs," added Jumblat.

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