After the meeting, Jumblatt stated, stressing his rejection of any negotiation while wars continue, saying: “I have already given my personal opinion regarding negotiation. Negotiation with countries is legitimate, but we cannot accept it under fire.”
Jumblatt also praised Ambassador Simon Karam, head of the Lebanese delegation in the “Mechanism” negotiations, describing him as “having good moral and political qualities, and is a seasoned negotiator.”
He added: “We are negotiating under the slogan of withdrawal, ceasefire, تثبيت ceasefire, and the return of the people of the south to their villages.”
Jumblatt recalled that the Armistice Agreement signed in 1949 is the basic reference for relations with Israel, pointing out that military and technological developments cannot negate adherence to constants, “the most important of which are land and sovereignty.”
He also pointed to the historical ambitions related to the Litani River’s waters, stressing the need for vigilance against any attempts to harm national wealth.
Jumblatt described his meeting with Berri as “cordial and warm as usual,” confirming the depth of the relationship between them: “The friend President… the historical ally.”
In response to a question about Israel’s talk of normalization, Jumblatt firmly replied: “No, we adhere to the truce… land for peace, as stated in the Beirut Arab Initiative in 2002.”
Regarding restricting weapons to the state, he said: “We are with strengthening the Lebanese army and with measures in southern Lebanon to restrict weapons to the sovereignty of the state, and generalizing that later to all Lebanese territories.”
However, he pointed to the weakness of international support, saying: “Where is the aid? Only Qatar provides financial aid. We need more soldiers, especially with the approaching end of the international forces’ presence after a year.”
Regarding the statements of the American diplomat Tom Braak regarding Hezbollah’s weapons, Jumblatt sufficed to say: “Let us suffice with the Mechanism and the statements of officials in it… form first, then content.”
