Mr. Abdul Halim Khaddam, the Vice President of Syria, announced today that the Syrian leadership consistently acknowledges the distinctive role of the Progressive Socialist Party’s leader, Deputy Walid Jumblatt, in thwarting the May 17 agreement. Khaddam stated upon his arrival in Mukhtara, one of the towns in Mount Lebanon, accompanied by a high-level Syrian delegation in response to Jumblatt’s invitation, that the May 17 agreement, declared in the aftermath of the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, would have restricted Lebanon and posed a significant threat to Syria and the entire Arab nation.
Jumblatt, who received Khaddam after 21 years since the last visit by a senior Syrian official to Mukhtara, simply stated, “We emphasize the depth of the relationship between the Progressive Socialist Party and Syria and the necessity of continuing it.”
During his visit to Mukhtara today, the Syrian Vice President addressed the regional situation, stating that the conditions set by Sharon for Syria to join the peace conference do not deserve a response. When Sharon specifies conditions, it means peace is impossible with such policies. He emphasized that Syria’s future approach is clear, entirely national, and adheres to its principles and clear policies.
The Syrian Vice President affirmed that what is happening today in Palestine does not only target the Palestinian people but all Arabs. It doesn’t just aim at the Palestinians’ will for liberation but targets the ability of all Arabs to survive. The more Arabs unite to support the uprising, the more they can tread the right path. He added that the circumstances are indeed challenging, but the enemy’s circumstances are even more challenging, and the international situation will not persist. The crucial thing is to persevere, and history repeats itself.
