Arelsan slams Jumblatt for taking contradicting positions ~ Supporting Resistance and Syria is a strategic choice

Source: nowlebanon.com, 12-12-2008
Lebanese Democratic Party leader and Minister Talal Arelsan has expressed support for the efforts of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun, which the minister said would prevent division among the Christians of Lebanon. Arelsan confirmed that he would run alongside the opposition in the 2009 parliamentary elections and said he supported calls to amend the Taif Agreement as the agreement was full of gaps.
At a press conference in his residence in Khaldeh, Arelsan questioned how some could "say that they support the Lebanese Armed Forces and at the same time criticize Army Commander Jean Kahwaji's visit to Damascus."
On his relations with Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt, Arelsan said the two Druze leaders would cooperate closely to prevent any conflict in Mount Lebanon and that he agreed with Jumblatt that "we should answer the question: What do the Druze want from the Resistance and Syria?"
Yet Arelsan also slammed Jumblatt for "taking positions during private meetings which he then contradicts with his speeches to the media."
"MP Walid Jumblatt asked me to try to bring different opinions together with Hizbullah and I now announce that I am ready to liberate him from his commitment," Arelsan told reporters at his residence.
Arelsan said he had agreed to broker a meeting to join Jumblatt and a Hizbullah delegation in Khaldeh, adding that Jumblatt had changed his mind to satisfy the Future Movement leader MP Saad Hariri.
The minister also said Jumblatt did not abide by the decision to foster good relations with Syria, adopt calm dialogue and support the Damascus Summit in August, which joined President Michel Sleiman and his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad.
"My support for the Resistance and Syria is a strategic choice, and non-negotiable," he said.
And on Free Patriotic Movement leader General Michel Aoun's recent, controversial visit to Damascus, Arelsan said, "Aoun's visit to Syria is historic because it paves the way for a new phase after the difficulties of the past, which were organized by some countries and embassies... Criticizing this visit does not serve Lebanon's interests," he added. "I visit Syria every week or two weeks and I do not need permission from anyone."