PES hosts Lebanese leader in bid to highlight plight of Lebanon

22 June 2006

The Party of European Socialists is giving its support for a free, independent and democratic Lebanon by hosting a visit to Brussels by Walid Jumblatt, the Leader of the Progressive Socialist Party of Lebanon.

In Brussels to bring international attention to the deteriorating situation in Lebanon, and following a meeting last night with PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, Walid Jumblatt  commented “The situation in Lebanon is getting worse. Syria is becoming more and more menacing in its threats and actions. The international community must stand up for Lebanon if it is ever going to be free of Syrian interference. It must put pressure on Syria to implement international agreements such as UN resolutions 1559, 1595, 1636, 1644 and 1680.”

Poul Nyrup Rasmussen said “The Party of European Socialists supports the efforts of Walid Jumblatt and the Progressive Socialist Party to achieve a truly independent Lebanon. I am encouraged by the dialogue among Lebanese national leaders and we in Europe must do all we can to help them implement their decisions. Syria must start treating Lebanon as a neighbouring sovereign state. The EU must demand that Syria stops its intimidation and violence. It should also be pressing the UN to go ahead with its proposed tribunal with an international character to bring to justice those responsible for the recent political assassinations in Lebanon.”   

The PES has arranged meetings for Mr Jumblatt today with leading European politicians including EU Foreign and Security Policy chief Javier Solana,  PES European Parliamentary Group President Martin Schulz, the President of the Belgian Senate Anne-Marie Lizin and Belgian Defence Minister André Flahaut.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Julian Scola, Press Officer, Party of European Socialists, , tel 00 32 2 548 9080