Gemayel met for three hours with Vice President Abdel Halim Khaddam — the architect of the Lebanese militia peace plan. He called the meetings successful and said efforts will continue to restore peace to his war-torn nation.
‘We discussed everything in depth and our talks were very successful,’ Gemayel said on his return. ‘We are striving for real peace and an end to the state of war. What matters for me is to end the state of war in the real sense of the word, and not just on paper.’
The sources said Assad and Gemayel were in ‘full agreement over the gravity of developments in south Lebanon,’ but that the Lebanese head of state asked for more time before giving his final opinion over the peace pact.
‘Deliberations on the peace plan were inconclusive. Gemayel and Assad will meet again next week to resume their discussions on the subject,’ said a government source who declined to be named.
The accord was signed Saturday by Nabih Berri, leader of the Moslem Shiite Amal militia, Walid Jumblatt, head of the mainly Druze Progressive Socialist Party, and Elie Hobeika, chief of the Christian-led Lebanese Forces.
Gemayel’s support of the Syrian-mediated accord is considered vital for its implementation. Damascus reiterated the need for the accord today.
‘Syria, which has exerted extensive efforts to have the agreement signed, will double its activity to have it applied,’ the government newspaper Tishrin said in an editorial today. ‘Within this context, Syria will be an obstinate antagonist against those who may plant obstacles in the way of implementing the accord.’
