Jumblatt: I hope to re-gain the "trust" of the Resistance party

The head of the Democratic Gathering MP Walid Jumblatt renewed on Sunday his willingness to meet with Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah whenever his eminence feels ready for such a meeting.

Speaking to Al-Jadeed TV, Jumblatt admitted that some in Hizbullah continue to doubt his intentions and stances. However, he urged them to distinguish between his previous and current positions and speeches. "I say one must distinguish between my speeches under the influence of blood with what I am saying now," Jumblatt said, hoping to re-gain the "trust" of the Resistance party.

The Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) leader recalled the meeting between Sayyed Nasrallah and the head of the Future movement MP Saad Hariri. He said that the mentioned meeting "was good and should be repeated."

Regarding the upcoming parliamentary elections in June, Jumblatt said that the formation of electoral lists in some regions, such as the Chouf, was due to the prevailing conditions. "I have a partnership with MP Saad Hariri and in some regions it was at our expense," he said, citing the failure to nominate former Minister Jean Obeid on the March 14 list. He also questioned why MP Misbah Ahdab was not nominated on the March 14 electoral list in Tripoli.

Jumblatt added that he had spoken with Hariri expressing his desire not to place a candidate in the Bekaa region that could annoy Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. Jumblatt said he would not cancel his "historic" relationship with Berri even if it did not appeal to some. He said conditions had set them apart; however, their joint "perseverance" would remain.

The PSP chief said he would have preferred if Prime Minister Fouad Saniora had decided not to run in the elections in the Sidon district. "Sidon is the city of Maarouf Saad and late Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri," he recalled. "Now that Saniora is a candidate, let the citizens of Saida decide," he said.