Jumblatt holds visits to Lebanese national forces
Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 8/11/1999

The chairman of the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) in Lebanon, Walid Jumblatt, on Tuesday visited the headquarters of the Syrian Socialist Nationalist Party (SSNP), on top of a delegation from his party, where he met with the chairman of the SSNP, Ali Qansouh. Jumblatt's visit falls in the course of meetings between political parties and forces.

Several local dailies reported that following the meeting Jumblatt said that discussions dealt with local and regional issues and means of uniting ranks to face the challenges that will be presented in the coming phase.

He added, "It is not our first meeting. We always meet with our comrades in the SSNP for consultations in conditions in the Middle East, Lebanon and Syria.

When asked about coming meetings with President Lahoud and government officials, Jumblatt said, "If we want to shorten the matter, we have to draw a joint project on the grounds of which the dialogue will be maintained."

Jumblatt was asked by reporters about his request for a meeting with President Lahoud in Beiteddine and that the president did not agree to the meeting. Jumblatt said, "I've never in my life gone to Beiteddine. Everything is over after it has been converted into a military barracks."

For his part Qansouh called on the government to open "a dialogue with the live forces in the society." He stressed the importance of preparing the internal front to withstand coming requirements through uniting forces, especially those national forces which fought Israel and foiled the partition project."
Sources of the meeting said, "The participants from the two sides shared similar views."

Previous Stories:
  Khaddam: The coming phase is more difficult   (8/10/1999)
  Jumblatt: Concentrating authority in Lahoud's hand leads to war   (8/10/1999)
  Lebanese President confers with Bashar al-Assad   (8/9/1999)

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