In an interview with Saudi Al-Watan newspaper published on Wednesday, Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt said that Hezbollah was not involved in the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
He also said that media leaks from the Special Tribunal for Lebanon—referring to the news reports last month that Hezbollah members were interrogated by the tribunal—are unacceptable and would be a reprise of the Der Spiegel German magazine incident. Last year the magazine printed a story alleging that Hezbollah was behind the Hariri assassination.
Jumblatt said that his visit to Syria earlier in April took place in coordination with Saudi Arabia and came within the framework of Arab reconciliation. Egypt and Syria wish to reconcile as well, he added.
“Syrian President Bashar al-Assad told me that he learned a lot from previous experiences, and I said that Lebanon has been through a critical period, thus let’s turn a new page,” he said.
Jumblatt also said that Public Works and Transportations Minister Ghazi Aridi discussed political issues during his visit to Syria prior to the PSP leader’s visit. Assad assigned Syrian officer Brigade Mohammad Nassif to be the link between PSP and Syria, he added.
The PSP leader touched on Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea’s criticisms against Lebanese officials visiting Syria, saying everyone has their own opinion.
The Resistance in Lebanon works not only to protect Lebanon but all Arab and Islamic states as well despite conflicts between the countries regarding Iran, he said. Jumblatt added that the Resistance’s arms should be discussed calmly within the framework of the national dialogue’s upcoming Thursday discussion of Lebanon’s defense strategy.
PSP leader also said that he discussed with Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah the 2007 US-Internal Security Forces (ISF) cooperation agreement. We do not mind if the agreement allows US to train the ISF, but we oppose it allowing Washington interfere in Lebanese domestic affairs, he added.
Jumblatt touched on the clashes that broke out last week between members of Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC), saying that Prime Minister Saad Hariri will discuss this issue with his Syrian counterpart, Mohammad Naji al-Otari.
Personally, I do not consider Iran a source of concern, he said. However, Jumblatt might be a case of concern for Arab states.
-NOW Lebanon
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