Lebanon:Jumblatt: Enmity Impossible between Lebanon and Syri...

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Jumblatt: Enmity Impossible between Lebanon and Syria

Source: As-Safir, 26-3-2009

The head of the Democratic Gathering MP Walid Jumblatt delivered positive messages to Syria in the framework of an apparently "new policy" amid fundamental changes in the region.
Jumblatt hailed the recent remarks of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during his interview with Lebanese daily As-Safir on Wednesday.

Speaking to same daily, Jumblatt justified his "inclination," saying that Assad showed a "change of tone compared to the past." He said that the Syrian President has reconsidered his position and "had admitted that there were mistakes done in the past."

The Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) leader said that between his former position calling for regime change in Syria and the position of normalization with Damascus, he chose the moderate stance, ‘which was incorporated in the Taif Accord that defined relations between Lebanon and Syria.'

"Lebanon cannot be enemies with Syria. This is against logic and history," Jumblatt stressed. He said Lebanon should not be a "passage" to any political faction hostile to Syria, emphasizing that he will stick to his principles, including "my moderate contribution" in torpedoing the May 17, 1983 peace agreement between "Israel" and Lebanon. "For my credibility, I cannot jump from one extreme to the opposite extreme," he added.

In his interview with As-Safir, Assad said that his country is seeking "strong bilateral relations" with Lebanon which were not based on political interests. He revealed that he was willing to cooperate with most Lebanese officials but indicated that he would not work with those who "don't believe in Lebanon's Arab identity, or that "Israel" is an enemy."