Jumblatt pessimistic about Middle East after Hollande meet

BEIRUT: Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt expressed pessimism about the future of the Middle East, while praising France’s support for Syria’s uprising after a meeting with French President Francois Hollande over the weekend. “It’s a long fratricidal war between Arabs,” Jumblatt said, referring to the Syrian civil war, after his meeting with Hollande in Paris Saturday. “The Fertile Crescent is being destroyed and I see no end in the near future but terrible suffering for Arab people.”

The PSP chief lauded the “brave position” adopted by Paris with regard to the Syria crisis and the violence in the Middle East. “[France’s] position against the Syrian regime is very clear, and it stands with the Syrian people.”

Jumblatt compared the destruction of the French village of Oradour-sur-Glane by the Nazis in World War II and the destruction inflicted on Syria. “Today, the [number of] Syrian cities and villages destroyed surpass the destruction of Oradour by 10, even 100 times,” he said.

The Druze leader is an outspoken critic of the Syrian regime and a staunch supporter of the uprising.

Last week, Jumblatt strongly criticized comments made by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry when he announced his country was exploring ways to pressure the Syrian president into agreeing to talks.

The war in neighboring Syria has led to a huge influx of refugees to Lebanon. Their numbers now exceed 1.2 million. “Helping refugees is a moral duty,” Jumblatt said.

“France and other countries are supporting them financially, and it is our duty too, since they don’t have any means to return to their homes. The regime destroyed everything they have and this is why we should take care of them.”

The Chouf lawmaker also expressed his opposition to the establishment of camps for Syrian refugees in Lebanon on the Syrian side of the border.

French sources told the Al-Mustaqbal newspaper that the meeting came at the request of Hollande.

The latter wanted to inquire about Jumblatt’s opinion on Lebanon’s 10-month presidential vacuum and other developments unfolding in the region.

“We looked into France’s support for Lebanon’s security and the Lebanese Army,” Jumblatt said. “We hope that the Lebanese problems won’t be solved in France. We should, as Lebanese, solve our problems by ourselves.”