Lebanon's Jumblatt makes overtures to Syria
AFP
BEIRUT- Lebanon's Druze leader Walid Jumblatt on Saturday called on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to turn the page on the past, admitting that he had in a moment of anger said inappropriate things.
The former virulent critic of the Damascus regime admitted to Al-Jazeera satellite television channel in an interview that he had made "inappropriate and unreasonable remarks about President Assad at a time of internal tensions and extreme division within Lebanon."
Lebanon's Druze leader Walid Jumblatt
He was referring to a speech he made on February 14, 2007, the second anniversary of the murder in Beirut by a massive car bomb of Lebanon's former premier Rafiq Hariri.
Syria was forced to withdraw its troops from its tiny neighbour shortly after the killing following a 29-year presence.
In his 2007 speech, Jumblatt branded Assad "the dictator of Damascus... a savage... an Israeli product, a liar... and a criminal."
On Saturday he said his remarks were "unworthy and unusual, unsuited to the ethics of politics even during a quarrel."
In 2005 Jumblatt accused Syria of killing both Hariri -- father of current Prime Minister Saad Hariri -- and his own father Kamal in 1977.
He said he would not personally go on March 16 to the tomb of his father for the anniversary of his assassination, in order to "turn this personal page for a new future."
In January Jumblatt told AFP in an interview he was close to reconciling with former arch-foe Syria.
"I believe that three-quarters of the road to Syria has opened up and what remains is the final gesture which depends on the right moment," he said.
The 60-year-old hereditary chieftain of Lebanon's Druze minority has come under fire since defecting last August from the US-backed ruling coalition he helped create in order to move closer to the Hezbollah-led opposition supported by Syria and Iran.
Jumblatt said his U-turn was necessary to preserve the peace and avoid sectarian bloodshed.
"I am willing to sacrifice everything for the civil peace even if my decisions are not popular," he said. "One must at times swim against the current."
Asked on Saturday if his comments were aimed at preparing the ground for a Damascus visit, Jumblatt said: "If Syria's leaders can consign this incident to history, they may decide on that. If I receive an invitation, I would have no objections."
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