Jumblat for Integrating Hizbullah”s Arms Into State, Says Berri Most Suitable Speaker
Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat stressed Friday that Speaker Nabih Berri was the most suitable candidate for the speakership and called for integrating Hizbullah”s armed capabilities into the Lebanese army.
Berri should keep his post because he "enjoys popular and political legitimacy," Jumblat told France 24 TV channel. "It is important to enter into dialogue with Berri and make him a political partner in finding suitable solutions for Lebanese issues."
The Druze leader also said that veto power in the upcoming cabinet was useless.
"There is no such thing in the Lebanese constitution, Jumblat told his interviewer, adding "the solution comes only through dialogue with the future parliament speaker while stressing that veto power is useless."
On Hizbullah”s arms, the Druze leader called for holding onto truce and upgrading Lebanon”s defense by integrating the resistance into the Lebanese army.
"MP Mohammed Raad can not reach conclusions that the arms are not a subject open to discussion…There is no consensus on concealing discussion on the resistance arms. That”s why the best way to protect the resistance weapons is to incorporate them into the state," Jumblat said during the interview.
Raad warned the March 14 coalition that won Lebanon”s parliamentary elections last weekend that Hizbullah”s weapons arsenal was not a subject open to discussion.
The Druze leader also lauded Syria for "dealing positively with Lebanon" after agreeing to establish diplomatic relations with Beirut.
"It seems that Syria and us have entered a stage of lowering tensions and accusations … As we await the international tribunal”s decision, we have to normalize ties with Damascus based on the Taef accord," Jumblat told France 24.
On al-Mustaqbal movement leader Saad Hariri”s plans to become the country”s next prime minister, Jumblat said: "If MP Saad Hariri has the desire to become the premier, then I will naturally support him."