Vice President of Syria, Abdel Halim Khaddam, affirmed today, “the impossibility of peace in the Middle East under the current circumstances.” He emphasized in a statement to journalists during a lunch hosted in his honor by the leader of the Progressive Socialist Party and Lebanese parliament member, Walid Jumblatt. The lunch was attended by the commander of the Syrian forces operating in Lebanon, General Ibrahim Al-Safi, and the head of the Security and Reconnaissance Apparatus in the Syrian forces operating in Lebanon, Ghazi Kanaan.
Khaddam criticized the conditions set by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for inviting Syria to the peace conference, stating that they do not merit a response. He further criticized “international policies that support such a criminal butcher who leads Israel towards destruction,” asserting that “when Sharon sets conditions, it means peace is impossible.”
He went on to say, “Our approach in Syria will remain clear through our adherence to our principles and policies, which we formulate in light of our vision, interests, and understanding of the Zionist project, not in accordance with others’ considerations.”
Khaddam, who was speaking to journalists after his meeting with Jumblatt in the town of Al-Mukhtara in Mount Lebanon, following his arrival at the head of a high-level Syrian delegation, stated, “If the Arabs’ circumstances are difficult, then the enemy’s circumstances are tougher. And if its capabilities are great, then the capabilities of the Arab nation are greater.”
Khaddam was received by the Lebanese Druze leader, Deputy Walid Jumblatt, along with a large political gathering that included ministers, deputies, representatives from the Progressive Socialist Party, Hezbollah, the Communist Party, Amal Movement, the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, and a number of state officials, as well as popular delegations from various mountain villages.
He warned that what is happening in Palestine “does not target the Palestinian people alone, but all Arabs… and it does not target the Palestinians’ will for liberation, but rather the ability to endure and persist among all Arabs.”
He continued, “To the extent that the Arabs stand in solidarity and unity to confront the Zionist project, we can defeat this project.”
He also affirmed that “to the extent that the Arabs unite to support the uprising and for the sake of continuing resistance in Palestine against Zionist aggression, they can step on the right path that leads them not only to liberating the land but also to liberating the suppressed will under the dominance of major powers.”
Khaddam urged to “maintain our clarity of vision and determination. Our nerves should not tremble under the pressure of this state or that, or this group of states or that. We won’t retreat under the pressure of force or threats.”
He stated in this context, “This fierce force will not persist, this Arab situation will not persist, and this international situation will not persist. What’s important is that we endure and remain patient to see the truth. Just as we were able to triumph in the past, Arabs will triumph again, and history will repeat itself.”
In response to a question from one of the journalists about his handling of the Lebanese file once again, Khaddam said, “There is no Lebanese file in Syria, the Lebanese file is with the Lebanese people.”
He emphasized the importance of Lebanese unity to ensure Lebanon’s integrity and unity. He praised the role of the leader of the Progressive Socialist Party, Deputy Walid Jumblatt, in thwarting the May 17 Agreement, stating that “this agreement would have restricted Lebanon and constituted a major blow to Syria and the entire Arab nation.”
He said, “We had more than one reading with Jumblatt on secondary issues, but at the major junctures, our stance was unified and will remain so,” expressing his pleasure with his visit to Al-Mukhtara and the reception he received, adding that his visit is not his first, as his connection with Jumblatt has never been severed.
The leader of the Progressive Socialist Party in Lebanon, Walid Jumblatt, also emphasized “the depth of strategic relations between the Progressive Socialist Party and Syria,” calling for their continuation.
He stated that “the relationship between Al-Mukhtara and Damascus was in the past to confront projects of division and fragmentation, and today it aims to confront the coming storm to enhance Arab unity and resilience.”
He pointed to the existence of what he referred to as “significant storms reappearing in our region” and called for Lebanese-Syrian solidarity and alliance “for dialogue, peace, the Arab identity of Lebanon, maintaining the Taif Agreement, defending the national and Islamic resistance, and aspiring for stability.”
It is worth mentioning that this visit is the first high-level Syrian delegation visit to Al-Mukhtara in 21 years. The lunch was attended by the secretary of the Baath Party in Lebanon, Deputy Assem Qansouh, and the representative of the President of the Lebanese Parliament, Deputy Ali Bazzi, as well as delegations from Hezbollah, the Amal Movement, the Nasserist Popular Organization, and the Communist Party, in addition to a number of ministers and deputies loyal to Jumblatt.
