Raising Syrian Flag Over Embassy Is Positive, But 88 Years Late
PSP leader MP Walid Jumblatt said that raising the Syrian flag over the headquarters of the new Syrian embassy on Hamra Street on Friday in the presence of Syrian diplomats was a positive development, although the gesture was 88 years late as the Lebanese state was established in 1920. “This was one of the March 14 forces’ demands and what Lebanon requests: the official acceptance of [the presence of] Lebanon,” Jumblatt said.
In an interview with al-Sharq al-Awsat daily on Saturday, Jumblatt said that the next steps should be taken more quickly. Jumblatt also said that he hoped the issues that were agreed upon by a consensus during the national dialogue would be realized as soon as possible. Jumblatt emphasized the need to resolve the issue of Palestinian weapons outside refugee camps and the delineation or demarcation of borders with Syria, especially the Shebaa farms, so that Lebanon is no longer a “hostage” to Syrian-Israeli negotiations.