Scenario for Jumblat”s Damascus Visit Being Mulled
Well-informed Lebanese sources said a scenario for a visit to Damascus by Druze leader Walid Jumblat is under consideration.
Relations between Jumblat and Syria deteriorated since 2003.
Pan-Arab Asharq al-Awsat on Sunday said Jumblat got "positive signals" from Syria during PM Saad Hariri”s Damascus visit that could open the door to resumption of relations.
It said it was now Jumblat”s turn to take further steps to end the "personal hatred" against Syrian President Bashar Assad.
Sources had said Jumblat is likely to make an on-air apology to Assad after his harsh criticism against him.
Minister for the Displaced Akram Shehayeb denied the report.
Former Druze Cabinet Minister Wiam Wahhab, however, confirmed Jumblat”s visit to Damascus, adding that Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah was engaged in efforts to bring Jumblat and Assad together.
Jumblat has admitted that no Lebanese political leader had gone too far in attacks against Assad, stressing that dialogue with Syria is inevitable.
"No one has gone way beyond the limits to assault Assad as much I did," Jumblat said in a June interview.