Aoun, Jumblat Agree on Overseeing Mount Lebanon Reconciliations, Pursuing Displaced People Issue
A reconciliation meeting between Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat and Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun was held on Wednesday at the Baabda Palace under the auspices of President Michel Suleiman.
"President Michel Suleiman strived for this reconciliation over several topics, specifically the displaced people," said Jumblat after the meeting, adding that "there will be follow-ups with FPM."
Jumblat said that other issues were under the government”s specialty and wished for a close conclusion for the ministerial Policy Statement drafting sessions so that work may start on developmental plans.
"General Aoun has a great political significance in Mount Lebanon," added Jumblat.
PSP leader considered that all political forces have to gather up "to close the wound" still present in the areas of Shahar, Abieh, and Breih.
"Today”s meeting can be added to the Mount Lebanon”s reconciliation (in 2001)," stressed Jumblat.
On the other hand, Jumblat stressed that he pulled out from constellations on August 2 despite his respect for the voters” desire.
"Voting inside the government will be according to each article separately and not according to March 8 or 14," added Jumblat.
Jumblat promised of a nearby visit to Rabiyeh and of inviting Aoun to Moukhtara.
On his part, Aoun said: "There is no black history with Jumblat, rather disagreement on political stances … today marks the start of ending a historical period and initiating another based on stability and restoring the foundations of coexistence in Mount Lebanon back to their initial nature — because what happened was a historical mistake that should be corrected and life should be back to normal."
The reconciliation between the two men was the second such move by President Michel Suleiman to bring together top leaders in as many weeks. Suleiman hosted Jumblat and Marada Movement leader Suleiman Franjieh for a meeting last week.
Jumblat told As Safir daily in remarks published Wednesday that the meeting with Aoun was necessary. "We have already agreed that national obligations compel us to leave debatable issues to the dialogue table."
Minister Jebran Bassil, who visited Suleiman on the eve of the meeting, said the reconciliation is expected to facilitate dialogue between the two sides over several topics, including the issue of the displaced.
The Jumblat-Aoun meeting would also lay the groundwork for coexistence in the mountains in the coming period, Bassil added.
State Minister Wael Abu Faour told Voice of Lebanon radio on Wednesday that the meeting between the two MPs comes as part of openness to all sides, and expressed readiness for the PSP to meet with the FPM.
Jumblat and Aoun held their last face-to-face meeting in Paris in April 2005 although the two men used to meet in parliament and Baabda palace while attending national dialogue sessions.