The delegation of the Islamic Meeting, comprised of MPs Zaki Mazboudi and Jamil Kabbi, returned from Damascus to Beirut after their meeting with Mr. Abdel Halim Khaddam, the Syrian Vice President, and held additional meetings with Syrian officials.
The meeting with Khaddam commenced at 12 pm and concluded at 2 pm. It involved discussions regarding the security situation, particularly the conditions in the camps, and constitutional matters.
Sources from the delegation confirmed that Khaddam expressed satisfaction with the efforts of Algeria and Libya, in collaboration with Syria, to alleviate the situation in the Palestinian camps using appropriate methods. He emphasized that any hindrance to these efforts would negatively impact the public interest.
Regarding the delegation’s position, they expressed regret over the clashes among Palestinians, as they believed it had a detrimental effect on the Intifada in the occupied territories. They stressed the importance of ending these battles.
It has been learned that the delegation prioritized security before discussing other matters, considering it a necessary prerequisite for the upcoming presidential election. They proposed implementing the Beirut Security Project to ensure security across Lebanon, as any tension in a Lebanese region would inevitably affect Beirut and vice versa. However, the sources indicated that Khaddam did not support the proposal, as he excluded the possibility of holding presidential elections under the current security conditions.
Khaddam, along with the head of the solution, reiterated the need for a president who can offer solutions rather than merely managing the crisis when discussing the next presidency. He expressed Syria’s readiness to assist Lebanon in conducting elections and described the present Lebanese-Syrian relations as positive.
Additionally, it was noted that the two parties did not address the issue of reform or the government’s situation. The meeting will continue to maintain contact to keep pace with the current phase. The delegation of the Islamic Meeting may plan a second visit to Damascus within the next two weeks.