Jumblatts Visit to Syria: A New Beginning in Syrian-Lebanese Affairs

Local Editor 02-04-2010

Last Wednesday Lebanese Druze leader, Walid Jumblatt, held agreement talks with his former rival, Syria President Bashar Al Assad.

The talks revolved over the significance of resisting against "Israel", and highlighted the role of Hizbullah's anti-"Israeli" movement.

After coming back from his landmark visit to Syria, Jumblatt held a press conference in Beirut on Thursday, where he said that Lebanese Future ties with Syria are based on confidence.

As quoted, Jumblatt said, "We agreed on the importance of supporting the Hizbullah resistance".

Jumblatt stressed that Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah played a major role in mediation efforts coordinate Jumblatt's visit, thanking him for making it happen.
Druze leader confirmed the ability of overcoming parts of the past in order to get straight into the important issues, those that will lead to Lebanon's stability.

Lebanese Minister of Public Works and Transportation, Ghazi Aridi, is on the run to continue what Jumblatt launched, and visit Syria next week, where he will be meeting Major General Mohammad Nasif, in order to solidify Lebanese-Syrian ties.

This also confirms what Jumblatt stated in his recent press conference, over mandating Minister Aridi to establish a file over maintaining good ties between Syria and Jumblatt's Progressive Socialist Party.

After the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese PM Rafik Hariri, Jumblatt had held Syria's Al Assad responsible for the killing. Since then, Jumbatt had not been to Syria until now, and as he says, his recent talks with President Al Assad will not be the last between both sides.