Jumblat Telephones Hariri, Stresses Importance of Dialogue to Preserve Coexistence
Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat has unveiled that he held a telephone conversation with former Premier Saad Hariri thanking him for his latest stance on Jumblat.
The Druze leader told An Nahar daily published Friday that he heard “moving words” from Hariri but refused to give further details.
Jumblat, who returned along with Minister Ghazi Aridi from Moscow on Wednesday night, said that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has welcomed Hariri’s statements and decision not to close the dialogue door with Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.
Breaking a nearly four-month silence, Hariri told MTV last week that he was ready to meet Nasrallah but in the presence of witnesses.
“I have never been against dialogue. I am ready for dialogue for the interest of Lebanon. But with complete frankness, if I talk to Sayyed Hassan I want to have witnesses,” he said.
“Lavrov advises the Lebanese not to take their country to the lines of tension,” the PSP chief told An Nahar. “This behavior does not serve Lebanon.”
Jumblat unveiled that Russian military assistance to Lebanon has made a major leap forward. “It is even ready to help in the railway sector.”
On the local situation and differences between the March 8 and 14 forces, the Druze leader said: “The new political alignment should not prevent contacts between the different parties.”
He stressed on the importance of respecting the point of view of others and insisting on dialogue. Hariri and Nasrallah should hold talks because “we are compelled to coexist and no one could abolish the other.”
Jumblat backed President Michel Suleiman’s invitation for all-party talks at the Baabda palace, saying dialogue should be aimed at agreeing on the defense strategy on condition that arms are not used locally.
He also stressed that Premier Najib Miqati’s cabinet should “not adopt reprisal policies” against March 14 officials.
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