Junblat and Syria
Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 11/11/2000

The Kuwaiti daily al-Watan quoted sources close to the Lebanese parliament member Walid Junblat as saying that channels have not been yet cut between Syria and Junblat after his recent stances concerning the Syrian presence in Lebanon and the decision taken by Damascus to prevent his entry to Syria.

The sources told the paper that Junblat considered what happened as a " misunderstanding which will be explained through various mediations and channels in the few coming days."

The sources added that Junblat's decision to stop media appearances after the Syrian decision that he is " persona non grata " in Damascus, reflects the desire of the Druz leader to contain the situation.

The sources said that minister Marwan Hamadeh, basically tried to bridge the rift, restore understanding and explain Junblat's stances.

To this effect, the Lebanese magazine "al-Afkar" said that the Syrian statement on the entry of Junblat to Syria has been amended from a persona non grata formula to that he " can get in the Syrian lands as an ordinary person."

The magazine explained that the second formula means canceling all facilities given to Junblat and members of his party and parliamentary blocs, such as using the military line of transport ( between Syria and Lebanon) as well as stopping the effect of licenses offered to him upon traveling on this line.

The magazine added that the Lebanese prime minister Rafik al-Hariri, and the speaker of parliament Nabih Berri are trying to find out an outlet for the tension between Junblat and Damascus especially as the decision to cancel the facilities is also valid on two members of Junblat's bloc in the Lebanese government who are the minister of the displaced Marwan Hamadeh and the information minister Ghazi al-Aridi.

It was also on Friday, the French magazine " Liberation" issued an articled under the title " Junblat is persona non grata in Damascus."

The Monte Carlo radio on Friday said that the paper reviewed in the article what was published that he is not prevented from entering Syria, rather he can enter it like any ordinary citizen and that he has to be inspected before borders barriers and cannot meet the Syrian officials.

Previous Stories:
  Lahoud: raising the issue of the Syrian presence in Lebanon pleases Israel   (11/9/2000)
  Damascus: Jumblat can visit Syria as Lebanese citizen, but not officially   (11/8/2000)
  Syrian Premier visits Lebanon to greet the new Lebanese government   (11/7/2000)

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