Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt has had enough of Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour’s defense of the Syrian regime , saying that it is harming Lebanon’s credibility.
In his weekly editorial in the al-Anbaa magazine Jumblatt wrote : “If only Lebanon’s envoy at the Arab League meetings would remain silent over the Syrian crisis instead of proposing solutions to the unrest.”
Mansour stated on Monday that Lebanon decided to distance itself from the Arab League decision on Syria that was taken on Sunday.
Mansour also was the only Foreign Minister to vote against the Arab league resolution for ending the crisis in Lebanon.
Mansour also said the Arab Foreign ministers should put an end to Syria’s suspension from the Arab League and the economic sanctions imposed upon it… He made the statement despite the fact that the killings in Syria continue
Mansour represents the Amal Movement ( which is headed by Speaker Nabih Berri ) in the cabinet . Berri is closely allied with the Iranian and Syrian backed Hezbollah which has been defending the Syrian regime and reportedly helping it in its crackdown against the pro-democracy protesters
Addressing the Arab League monitoring mission to Syria, Jumblatt compared it to the international mission that was sent to monitor the situation in Kosovo in the past.
Jumblatt noted that the number of observers to Syria should have been greater than those that headed to Kosovo since the Arab country is much larger than the European one.
He added : “Syria is likely headed towards more violence, which will gradually lead to a civil war, because of the ongoing oppression and repeated rejection of all initiatives to end the crisis.
Jumblatt also praised the recent Alawite intellectuals’ statement that sought to distance the sect from the Syrian regime’s practices.
Alawite intellectuals denounced last week what they said are efforts by the Syrian government and parts of the opposition to link their sect to the regime, warning against the consequences of casting a popular uprising for civil rights in a sectarian light. President Assad belongs to the Alawite sect
Jumblat wondered when the predominantly Druze residents of Jabal al-Arab in Syria would take a similar stand.
“We salute the few voices from Jabal al-Arab that have spoken against the Syrian regime and reject attempts by some of its leaders to cover up the crimes being committed against the Syrian people,” Jumblatt added noting that it was the Druze of Syria that revolted against foreign powers, such as the French mandate in the 20th century.
“Isn’t it time for Druze soldiers to reject orders to kill their Syrian brothers in Homs, Hama, Idlib, and other regions?” Jumblatt asked
Addressing Iran’s Quds Force, Brig. Gen. Qasem Soleimani’s recent statements on Lebanon and Iraq, Jumblatt said:
“We reject attempts to turn Lebanon once again into an open ground for settling regional and international disputes and we praise Moqtada al-Sadr’s rejection that Iraq become an open ground for other people’s wars.”
Soleimani said last week that the people of southern Lebanon and Iraq are under the effect of Iran’s “way of practice and thinking.”
Soleimani was quoted by Al-Arabiya television as saying last Friday that” Iraq and Hezbollah-dominated South Lebanon “submit” to Tehran’s wishes in one way or another. ”
While Iraq’s Sadr has rejected the statement , Hezbollah remained silent despite the demands by March 14 that Hezbollah should clarify Suleimani’s statement.
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