Libanon

[Shahab3]

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Assad, Jumblatt discuss 'importance of resistance'

Lebanese Druze leader, considered one of Syrian president's strongest critics, warmly welcomed in Damascus after abandoning anti-Syrian camp

Roee Nahmias
Latest Update: 03.31.10, 15:14 / Israel News

Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt met Wednesday with Syrian President Bashar Assad in a summit essentially completing Jumblatt's political turnover. The Druze leader, who used to be one of the Syrian president's strongest critics, recently reconciled with Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah.

Official Syrian news agency SANA reported that Jumblatt praised Assad's stand towards Lebanon and his "commitment to its security and stability". The Druze leader commended the Syrian president for his efforts to tighten the relations and cooperation between the two countries.

[...]

Following his decision to move to the pro-Syrian camp, Jumblatt appeared on al-Jazeera television, said that his earlier statements were "improper" and called for a new page in relations between Syria and Lebanon.

"These comments were improper, unfamiliar and unsuited to political ethics," Jumblatt said in a live interview. "I said, at a moment of anger, what is improper and illogical against President Bashar Assad. It was a moment of ultimate internal tension and division in Lebanon."

He also used the opportunity to thank Nasrallah and Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who heads the Shiite Amal party, for "all they have done on this matter."

[...]

Drusenführer Jumblatt wechselt dem Trend folgend ins pro-syrische Lager. Es verstärkt sich damit der Eindruck, dass der israelische Angriff 2006 die libanesischen Fraktionen wieder enger zusammen gebracht hat. Nasrallah wird dabei die Rolle des Vermittlers zugerechnet.