Khaddam meets Junblat in Lebanese town of Mukhtara; Sharon's conditions unworthy of an answer
Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 5/22/2002

Syria's Vice President Abdul Halim Khaddam has stressed that what is taking place in the Palestinian territories does not only target the Palestinian people, rather the Arabs as a whole.

In a speech he made during his meeting with the chairman of the Lebanese Socialist Progressive Party Walid Junblat in the Lebanese town of al- Mukhtara, al-Shouf on Tuesday Khaddam said "the more the Arabs stand steadfast and united to withstand the Zionist project, we can defeat this project, the more the Arabs become united against the Israeli enemy -- they can place their feet on the right track which will lead them not only to liberating the lands but also to liberate the will deprived by the greater forces."

Khaddam stressed that "conditions are difficult and so are the days but what is correct is that the future is for us. Our conditions are difficult but the conditions of our enemy are more difficult."

Khaddam, on the other hand expressed thanks to Junblat for his invitation extended to him to visit al-Mukhtara, stressing that the relations with "this house" (in remarks to relations between Syria and Junblat family) started by the beginning of 1950s between the late Kamal Junblat and the leadership of the Baath Party, noting that this relation has never stopped even when sometimes there was not a one united reading towards marginal issues, but for the main stations and position, there has always been one reading and one position.

Khaddam stressed Syria's appreciation to the role played by Junblat in foiling the May 17 accord between Lebanon and Israel.

On the conditions stated by Sharon for making peace, Khaddam said Sharon's conditions are not worthy to be answered. He added that when Sharon sets conditions this means that peace is impossible with these policies he pursues.

He also stressed that Syria's national policy is clear. It is its commitment to her principles and policies.

He continued that the current phase is similar to the phase when the May 17 accord was signed. He explained that during the "May 17 accord," Israel "tried to put its hand on Lebanon and now Sharon and the Israelis are trying to put their hands on the Palestinian people. As we all struggled and foiled the May 17 accord, we have now to struggle to foil a ( May 17 ) like agreement taking place in or outside Palestine."

Khaddam continued Israel has not changed and will not. This conflict is continuous and open until being ended with an Arab victory. What happened in Lebanon ( in remarks to recent assassination acts of Jihad Jibril and the kidnapped Lebanese engineer) might take place in any country -- one month ago the chairman of the conservatives party in Holland was assassinated. He added that Israel should not be given the chance to violate stability in Lebanon . He added security in Lebanon is better than that in many of the greater states and occurrence of an incident here or there is expected.

Khaddam made it clear that there is no Lebanese file in Syria, rather the Lebanese file is determined by the Lebanese themselves.

For his part, Junblat welcomed Khaddam's visit and stressed that the care given by the late Syrian President Hafez al-Assad to achieve people's reconciliation for Lebanon.

Junblat also stressed Syrian- Lebanese solidarity in order to fix the Taif accord, support the Lebanese national resistance and preserving the Arab identity of Lebanon as means to challenge hostile schemes against the Arab region.

Khaddam arrived in al-Mukhtara, accompanied by the chairman of the security branch of the Syrian forces working in Lebanon. He was welcomed by Lebanese ministers, members of parliament and social, religious, political and party figures.

Previous Stories:
  Message from Al-Assad to Lahoud, conveyed by al-Shara   (5/14/2002)
  Al-Shara in Beirut today   (5/13/2002)
  Berri today in Damascus   (5/9/2002)

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