MP Jumblatt says former PM Hariri "proved true statesmanship"

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt hailed on Monday the stances launched by former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, adding that the latter proved to be a "statesman amid the deteriorating security situation in Lebanon."

Jumblatt's comments were made to al-Anbaa newspaper in which he slammed all provocative political and media campaigns that criticized Hariri's latest stance.

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri expressed on Friday his readiness to partake in a new coalition government with Hezbollah, noting that he is very "optimistic regarding the formation of such a government."

Hariri's comments were made during an interview with Reuters on the sidelines of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon's deliberations in The Hague.

Hariri added that he is trying to rule the country with the rest of the country's official due to the difficult circumstances in which Lebanon is passing through, mainly after the International community failed in dealing with the Syrian crisis.

On another note, MP Jumblatt said that the Geneva 2 conference "is the sole and mandatory solution for the Syrian opposition to move to a new phase in the struggle."

The peace talks in Geneva are intended to bring together for the first time representatives of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government and members of the Western-backed opposition that is trying to overthrow him. Diplomats and political leaders acknowledge that a quick end is unlikely for a conflict that has killed more than 130,000 people and touched off the worst humanitarian crisis in decades.

The battle lines have been largely frozen since early 2013, and the Syrian National Coalition has little sway or respect within Syria's rebellion.


LBCI/AP