MUKHTARA - Lebanon is being held "hostage to deals that start in Lebanon and end in Tehran at the expense of our ambitions for freedom," according to one of Lebanon's leading politicians, Walid Jumblat, head of the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP). In an exclusive interview with The Daily Star at the Druze leader's remote Mukhtara home, Jumblat said: "There is a political alliance taking place in the region, which is not for the benefit of Lebanon."

Iran: New regional power

According to Jumblat, "Iran, today, with its population, its political strength and financial capabilities is a strong player to be reckoned with and a key player in East Asia, in the Arab world and in Lebanon.

"Today, after the invasion of Iraq, Iran - the Islamic republic or the Persian Muslim- is more powerful. It has formed a political alliance rather than a Shiite alliance. Political allies stretch from Iran to Syria to Lebanon - and Lebanon is the weakest link in this alliance."

As to whether Syrian/Iranian aims for the region coincide with Israeli ambitions, he said: "It's not that they meet, the times of Iran-Contra are long over. Syria and Iran want to fight Israel only from Lebanon. Why?

"I say, great, you want to fight Israel, open the Golan front. That front has been the most peaceful in the region since 1973. Why only in Lebanon?"

He went on to reply: "I'll tell you why Lebanon. It is a long history of events that starts with the Americans' and Arabs' green light for the Syrians to enter Lebanon under the pretext of stopping the war.

"In 1976 when in the Cairo and Riyadh agreements, this deal was made for Syria to enter Lebanon 'to stop the civil war' it was actually a reason to confiscate independent Palestinian decision-making and hit [late Palestinian Leader Yasser] Arafat."

"It was also aimed at hitting the Lebanese Left and the Leftist ideology which was portrayed then as if it were planning to invade the Arab world. By assassinating [late PSP leader and Walid Jumblat's father] Kamal Jumblat, they dealt a huge blow to the Leftist parties.

"I think the Syrians played on internal differences and when we became united, [March 14], the Syrians again stoked them... and through Syria, of course, there is Iran."

As to Hizbullah, "the resistance group's failure to condemn the Syrian regime after everything that took place, and especially after [former premier] Rafik Hariri was killed, is the major point of discord.

"It is our ambition to become a free country - after the [2001 Christian-Druze] reconciliation of the mountain [led by Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir], after the south's liberation [May 2000], after Syrian soldiers officially left our land [April 29, 2005].

"But in their compromises and deals, they want Lebanon to once again be the location for struggle - over the Golan Heights, over Iran's nuclear plans, over the Shebaa Farms."

1559 and Shebaa Farms: Lebanese or not Lebanese?

"There are two opinions regarding Resolution 1559. There is the opinion of Syria and its allies, who claim that 1559 was pre-prepared, whereas we say that 1559 was the result of the Syrian decision - which was known - to extend President Emile Lahoud's term of office."

He added: "At the same time, hypothetically let us say that the resolution was pre-prepared, why didn't the Syrians use Rafik Hariri's skills and connections to prevent this resolution from being passed?

"At the end of the day Rafik Hariri had excellent connections. But then all relations between Syria and Rafik Hariri were cut.

"The decision to extend Lahoud's term was based on political and financial considerations, because between the Syrian regime and Lahoud's regime there were many financial profits - by the entourage of both Lahoud and Assad.

"And at the end of the day the best way for the Syrian regime to keep its grip on Lebanon is through Lahoud, who facilitated the Syrians' entry into every facet of Lebanese life: the army, the police, administrative positions - in everything, even in some of the banks. There was no need to change him; Bashar saw in Lahoud his best tool."

While dissecting Resolution 1559, Jumblat stressed outright what many Lebanese politicians have been eager to avoid saying - "1559 has not been implemented."

Dialogue on Hizbullah's arms

"Hizbullah's weapons...It has always been our motto that disarming Hizbullah would not work without dialogue. But it's not dialogue just for the sake of dialogue. We have dialogue with conditions. Liberating the land - OK, so liberating the land is linked to the Shebaa Farms and whether they are Lebanese."

Resolution 425, calling for the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from South Lebanon, "has been implemented. When the UN demarcated the Blue Line, it was implemented. But Shebaa's property rights are Lebanese, so 425 has not been implemented there if it is proven that it's under Lebanese sovereignty and until the Syrian government admit it is Lebanese and officially announces that to the United Nations.

"If we don't prove that, the conflict remains open, 1559 remains unimplemented and Lebanon remains hostage in a regional equation."

He added: "Hizbullah's weapons are linked to liberation. Liberation is linked to Shebaa; Shebaa is not allowed to be officially named as Lebanese. It's a vicious circle."

Asked whether there is real and continuous dialogue regarding the weapons, Jumblat said: "On what basis? Respecting international decisions - and we mentioned this in the ministerial statement and the Hizbullah ministers agreed upon this - respecting international resolutions."

As far as internal conflict and the possibility of returning to war are concerned, the Druze leader said: "There is no internal conflict. There is one armed side - or rather, there is one armed Palestinian team, which we are awaiting dialogue with, and an armed party, which is Hizbullah. But what can we do when we have a paralyzed government?"

Palestinian weapons

"We said that outside the camps, there is no need for them but right up to now the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command has weapons outside the camps which are abundant and they are receiving more.

"Inside the camps, they are a danger to civilians and their presence inside the camps will be subject to future dialogue with the new authority.

"There are trucks crossing the border from Syria, loaded with weapons and guerrillas every night. They are sending us what is called the 'Palestinian Liberation Army'.

"They have fortified the Naameh bases and the weapons in the camps are at the ready. The amount of weapons and ammunition in Lebanon now is huge."

Asked why the security situation remains in chaos, Jumblat said: "How can we implement security when you doubt the loyalty of people in the government and in the security apparatus? We haven't been able, until now, to arrest one single person involved in the bombings.

"We can say that the army's security is better, but in the Surete Generale? How can I tell the officers in the Surete Generale, who have been placed there by [former head of the Surete Generale] Jamil Sayyed over years and years, to protect the borders?

"[The current head of the Surete Generale Wafik] Jezzini was a compromise between us and Hizbullah, hoping that his loyalty is for Lebanon."

Relations with Syria - past and present

Some politicians and observers criticize Jumblat, saying his rejection of the Syrian regime is a contradiction to his former years of alliance with it. So was he forced to follow Damascus for all those years?

In the MP's view, "I was forced yes - even after they killed Kamal Jumblat. I was following Arabism and the way Lebanon was set up internally at the time, I had to compromise. Unfortunately in politics, one has to compromise.

"But the former regime was The Godfather Part I. This one is The Godfather Part II."

"The banner that the March 14 forces are walking under is achieving independence and sovereignty. The March 8 banner is about gluing ourselves to Syria at the expense of the country's future, its ambitions for freedom and under the pretext of an open conflict with Israel.

"And this is never under discussion, it is forbidden. Because when you debate the issue of why Lebanon? Or why only Lebanon? you are accused of being a traitor of course."

Arab Initiative - Syria in sheep's clothing

As to the ongoing Arab "deals" being offered to the Lebanese, Jumblat stressed: "Part of the initiative is separating the investigations (into Hariri's assassination) from Syrian/ Lebanese relations. How can one do that? It's impossible. http://www.dailystar.com.lb

"These are Syrian ideas, as Premier Fouad Siniora said. It was debated and they tried to pass it off as a Saudi/ Egyptian deal, but it is Syrian.

"It basically asks Lebanon to return to the 'synchronization' of the security apparatus and almost uniting the foreign ministries. They didn't even mention the investigation, not to mention muzzling our free press."

"There are no miracles in politics. It is all a matter of timing. The Syrians and the Iranians are playing on the time factor, so that [French President Jacques] Chirac's term ends and they await the new U.S. presidential elections - knowing that the matter of forming an international tribunal will take time."

Foreign Interference

So why shy away from the Arab deals in favor of those of the West and what some claim is interference in Lebanon's affairs?

"The only interference we have from the other side is there for one reason and one reason only - it is to counter or to try to rein in the Syrian hegemony of Lebanon.

"We have the issue of the investigations, which is why we are accused by Hizbullah and others of trying to internationalize the issue.

"The investigation issue is a very long one; if it is allowed to run its course - for the international court to be formed and for the generals to be tried for their role - it is a long road. For this reason we rely on French, U.S. and British help, to bring the people in the Syrian regime to trial because the international tribunal is beyond national sovereignty," referring to Syrian President Bashar Assad's claim the international tribunal would violate Syria's sovereignty.

And to what extent do you trust this help?

"It's not a matter of whether I trust the Americans. I don't have any other means of pressure to reach an international court at the time being except with U.S. policy and Jacques Chirac. As far as Russian policy is concerned, some members support the international community, others humor the Syrian demands. Russian/Syrian relations are very strong.

"And we actually always recall to mind the Taif Accord and what it stipulates:

"First we ask about Shebaa, let us prove it is Lebanese. The Syrians say no and the latest thing they have come up with is that it is an Israeli demand.

"Implement Taif - send the army to the south. Let us have a cease-fire with Israel. We don't want peace.

'Why not remain neutral? We have two big neighbors; annoying neighbors. One is the enemy - Israel. The other used to be an ally. But now, after the murders in Lebanon, I consider this regime an enemy. Not the people, the regime.

However, Lebanon's Speaker Nabih Berri, in an interview with NBN last week, called for re-writing the Taif Accord because it does not deal with the new situations.

"Well that's great," Jumblat said sarcastically. "Re-writing Taif practically means not sending the Lebanese army to the south, not enforcing the cease fire agreement, not establishing Lebanese sovereignty over the Shebaa Farms - and that is just the South.

"As for the rest, it means that any decision taken should be taken with unanimous consent, which constitutes a blow to the meaning of democracy and majority.

"Which means appointing any bellboy would need everyone's consent, a thing that would lead the country to complete paralysis."

Baabda-Aley elections: a test for Lebanon

"I hope that this seat, which became empty after the death of Edmond Naim, will serve for the better good of Lebanon, and not be a seat for a certain party or sect. Naim didn't belong to any party and at one point he was with my father in the Progressive Socialist Party but he quit for his own reasons in the 1960s.

He defended Geagea rightfully when Geagea was in prison but he didn't belong to a particular group. He was a free man and a great legal scholar. I hope that this seat will be filled as the result of a compromise between the alliances of the March 14 forces.

Hamas and the new equation

With Hamas' victory, new givens are present in the regional equation. To Walid Jumblat, "with Hamas' victory we have entered a new formula. Hamas has to deal with the internal situation on the ground. But here, Lebanon has taken all it can handle. It has to deal with the refugees' living conditions, UNRWA's help to them, giving them certain rights and Hamas has to remember the value of independent Palestinian decision-making and the right to determine their own destiny."

What would you say to...?

Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah

"We have specified the points of difference, which includes defending the Syrian regime.

"Nasrallah says: 'We support Syria - its people, regime and leadership.' That's the first point. The second point is why try to include Lebanon in a larger formula that is beyond Lebanon's power to handle. I say ok, Iran helped in the liberation, and then what? That is enough. The third point of difference is the issue of Shebaa Farms.

"After establishing the Lebanese identity of the Farms and sending the Lebanese army to the south, Hizbullah's arms should be under the supervision of the army."

President Emile Lahoud

"I consider his mandate unconstitutional. He was imposed on us by the Syrian regime. He is an obstacle which is hindering everything from the security appointments to the judicial appointments. He was not forced or threatened by the Syrians to stay in power. He is the option card which Syria is holding against the Lebanese.

Speaker Nabih Berri

"I tell him, and Nasrallah as well, at the end of the day they represent a large section of the Lebanese. At the end of the day the Shiites are Lebanese too and I do believe that there shouldn't be any bilateral agreements. Everyone has to agree for the sake of Lebanon its sovereignty and independence and freedom.

Relations with the FPM?

Our relations with the FPM is good, acceptable. There is always a line of contact. We acknowledge Aoun's efforts and help achieving independence.

Assassinations and attempts: who and why?

Rafik Hariri: "He was wholly Lebanese, a grand Arab leader, independent - a grand Sunni leader, which maybe disturbed a Lebanese equation and maybe more than Lebanese... he became bigger than he should and worried a regional party, and I am not only talking about Syria."

Marwan Hamade: "It was a Syrian message to Hariri, me and the international community. This attempt failed, and when it failed, they killed Hariri. Anyhow I think that the order to kill Hariri was taken even before the decision to extend Lahoud's term."

Samir Qassir: "It was a blow to An-Nahar. Qassir was one of the few calling for free Palestinian decision-making, he was critical of the Syrian regime and president and he was against all dictatorship regimes - including Syria."

George Hawi: "He refused the Syrian mandate and regime and it is said, a thing I'm not sure of, that he gave information about Hariri's assassination. I think Hawi was misled into a trap by the Syrians, because at the height of the Syrian mandate and after Hariri's assassination, Hawi was trying to replace Emile Lahoud with Nassib Lahoud, and he was meeting with Syrian officials who mislead him and gave him false reassurances and then hit him."

Elias Murr:"He had the courage to stand in the face of Rustom Ghazaleh and refused to play along with him regarding when they tried to trap him and tarnish his role in the Majdel Anjar incident," (when Murr arrested alleged Al-Qaeda members from the Majdel Anjar and Dinnieh towns for attempting to bomb foreign embassies here).

May Chidiac: "A blow to LBC and the media again. I didn't know of her affiliation with the Lebanese Forces and I have no idea of her relation with the Americans."

Gebran Tueni: "A blow to An-Nahar and free media. Gebran was courageous and bold. He demanded the end of all totalitarian regimes which includes the current Syrian regime. And he was right. Gebran was already threatened and [UN probe team former chief Detlev] Mehlis gave him the hit-list list. I think that someone gave him assurances in Paris just like they (the Syrians) reassured Hariri shortly before they assassinated him. That's how they operate. Reassure and assassinate." .