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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Jumblatt refuses to confirm attendance at Berri's dialogue
2006-02-22
As parliamentary blocs prepare for the upcoming national dialogue, Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt has yet to confirm that he will participate in the event, saying he must first consult with his allies on the issue. Jumblatt's closest ally, Future Movement leader Saad Hariri, and the rest of the March 14 Forces have already confirmed their participation.

Jumblatt continues to delay his decision, despite having received Tuesday a special committee formed of Amal parliamentary bloc members dispatched to extend an invitation to the national dialogue called for by Speaker Nabih Berri. "I have to finish my consultations with my March 14 allies over this dialogue issue. Of course no one can refuse to participate in a dialogue, but also no one can agree to take part in a dialogue just for the purpose of having one," Jumblatt said.

Jumblatt said the problem lies in the absence of a leader to head the national discussions. "We are a team and they are a team and when I say there is no leader this means that the president is part of one of the teams. For the dialogue to be complete the president has to stop implementing a non-Lebanese agenda. The main item to be discussed should be overthrowing the president."

The Druze leader compared the rockets found near the home of MP Bahia Hariri to those found in near his residence a few months ago, and which were followed by the assassination of anti-Syrian MP Gebran Tueni. "Are [Syrian President] Bashar [Assad] and his agents preparing for another assassination before the dialogue starts? There is a historical and technical resemblance between the two situations," Jumblatt said.

Jumblatt further dismissed allegations that overthrowing President Emile Lahoud would automatically lead to the disarmament of Hizbullah. "The resistance has finished its role. The Shebaa Farms issue can be solved without arms; the Taif Accord should be implemented; the army should be deployed to the South; and the armistice agreement reactivated," Jumblatt said.

The Amal committee, which included MPs Anwar Khalil, Michel Moussa, Samir Azar and Ayoub Humayyed, also visited former President Amin Gemayel, who said his parliamentary bloc will take part in the talks. Gemayel said Berri's initiative should pave the way to solve all pending issues and unite the Lebanese. He stressed that all debatable issues, including the Hizbullah's weapons, should be settled according to the Taif Accord. "The Taif Accord is clear concerning the arms of Hizbullah and it stipulates reactivating the armistice agreement with Israel," Gemayel said.
Posted by:Fred

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