BEIRUT: MP Walid Jumblatt said Friday that only a “political solution” can end the crisis in Syria, during a Moscow tour where he met Russia’s foreign minister.
“There is no solution to the Syrian crisis other than a political solution,” the Progressive Socialist Party chief said in an interview with Russia Today TV. “This cold war should end so that we reach a peaceful solution.”
Jumblatt’s comments came during a Russian tour in which he was accompanied by his son Timur and Health Minister Wael Abu Faour.
The PSP leader met Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his deputy for Middle Eastern affairs Mikhail Bogdanov. In a statement, the PSP media office denied rumors that Jumblatt was expected also to meet with President Vladimir Putin.
Jumblatt backs the removal of Syrian President Bashar Assad, but Russia has been one of the few voices of support for the Syrian leader in the international community.
Jumblatt said that Russia had “historic” relations with Lebanon and sought stability in the country. The PSP enjoyed strong relations with the USSR, which was among its backers during the Lebanese Civil War.
Jumblatt also spoke out against Israel during his Russia Today interview, describing it as the real source of “terrorism” in the Middle East.
He also said the Future Movement of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri was against extremism, and said that Wednesday’s extension of Parliament’s mandate was “unpopular.”
Jumblatt met Thursday with Alexey Pushkov, the head of the foreign affairs committee in the Duma, the Russian legislature.
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