Jumblatt: Only insane would seek deal with Assad

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt ruled out the possibility of anyone reaching a settlement with Syrian President Bashar Assad and called on Russia to relocate the embattled leader. "Whoever thinks that they can reach a settlement with Assad's family is insane," Jumblatt said during the Socialist International Special Committee on the Arab World conference held in Istanbul, Turkey, which launched Friday. The conference, titled “At a turning point in the region: Empowering the progressive actors to secure the success of the transitions,” brought together delegates from 21 European and Middle Eastern socialist parties. According to Socialist International, the event, which ends Saturday, comprises an agenda with four items: “Answering to the humanitarian and political crises in Syria: bringing an end to the violence and securing a democratic course; Maintaining the momentum for change: ensuring the growth of healthy, effective new democracies; Defining the social democratic blueprint to ensure the success of the transitions in the Arab world in their various stages; and Enhancing cooperation between social democratic forces in the region – working together to advance our common aims.” The PSP leader, who has been one of Assad’s staunchest critics in Lebanon, also urged Moscow to help rid the Syrian people of Assad and his family. “If Russia was concerned about the best interests of the Syria people, it would remove this family [Assad’s] and take him to Russia or some other place and leave the Syrian people to decide their fate in freedom and dignity,” Jumblatt was quoted as saying. The UN Security Council, including Russia and China, backed Wednesday efforts by Kofi Annan to end the bloody conflict in Syria, providing a rare moment of global unity in the face of the yearlong crisis. The council, in a statement approved by all its 15 members, threatened Syria with unspecified “further steps” if it failed to comply with Annan’s peace plan, which calls for a cease-fire and demands swift access for aid agencies. The UN estimates at least 8,000 people have died in the revolt, which took off in March 2011, according to UN figures. Damascus blames the violence on “armed gangs” and says it is facing a foreign-backed plot aimed at removing the Syrian leadership.