Jumblat-Raad Meeting Stressed Right to Difference and Calm
The overnight meeting between Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat and Hizbullah official Mohammed Raad, the first such encounter between the two sides since the violent events in May of last year, stressed on strengthening the clam climate.
Press reports on Thursday said Jumblat and Raad did not discuss political issues.
Jumblat told reporters after the Wednesday evening meeting that he did not discuss with Raad the items on the national dialogue agenda, saying: "dialogue is one thing and bilateral meetings are something else."
The meeting was hosted by Lebanese Democratic Party leader Talal Arslan, who has been acting as a broker, at his residence in Khalde on the coastal highway south of Beirut.
An Nahar daily said talks were marked by honesty. It said both men agreed on the need to follow up all-party national talks on the basis that each side adheres to its stance and alliances.
It said Jumblat reiterated the PSP”s firmness in its alliance with the ruling March 14 Forces and his stance from the Syrian regime.
Jumblat, according to An Nahar, pointed out to Raad that the problem with the Syrian regime is one of the main controversial issues with Hizbullah.
As Safir newspaper for its part said talks focused on two topics – ways to protect Lebanon in the face of an Israeli offensive and the prospects for future Lebanese-Syrian relations.
It quoted Raad as responding to Jumblat”s criticism on Syria, saying: "If some believed that a problem does exist with Syria, this problem whatever it was could be solved and dealt with. But the dispute with Israel is not subject to a solution."
Raad believed that ties with Syria should be based on this vision.
On the issue of Hizbullah”s defense strategy, Jumblat said that Lebanon”s position is very clear regarding the Arab-Israeli conflict. However, he said there is a general view that sees matters should not remain outside state authority.
Raad disagreed. "We clearly differ on the manner of the resistance so this issue should be discussed on the negotiating table and no doubt we will reach a solution sooner or later. That does not mean that the two of us cannot discuss this matter bilaterally."
Raad, however, hoped that there would be a continuation of review of the May 2007 events and the Doha accord "in order to match strategic views."
Responding to a question on the possibility of a meeting between Jumblat and Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Raad said: "When exchanges of views reach a strategic level then there would be a possibility for a Jumblat-Nasrallah meeting."
Commenting on the newly sworn-in U.S. President Barack Obama, Jumblat said: "Yesterday, we saw a dream come true in the U.S. and there is no doubt that it is a nation that can through democracy bring forth a President of African origin and I hope this dream would be achieved in the East."
Arslan also stressed after the hour-long meeting that the "mountains cannot be a site for conspiracy against the resistance."
Arslan earlier said the meeting is "itself a major achievement."
The local media had said the meeting also aimed at ensuring a peaceful and calm climate following the events of May last year when Hizbullah seized most of west Beirut during fighting between opposition and government supporters.
The governing March 14 coalition said Hizbullah”s battle was a "coup" aimed at restoring the influence of Syria and Iran.
Hizbullah-allied Christian leader Gen. Michel Aoun said at the time that Hizbullah”s actions had helped restore Lebanon”s political equilibrium.