The sources quoted that Clemenceau’s meeting had a “very frank atmosphere”, so the Hezbollah delegation began by expressing a “desire to open a new page” between the two sides, so Jumblatt took the initiative to ask “a set of questions”, putting the answer to them by drawing the leadership of “Hezbollah” in the coming days. In the presidential file, he asked: “Are you ready to accept the election of a president from outside the ranks of March 8?”
In the demarcation file, Jumblatt addressed Khalil frankly, asking: “Is the issue of border escalation greater than the issue of tugging the negotiating ropes with Israel, and does it have Iranian and Russian dimensions in the context of the conflict with the West?” And he added: “We do not agree to the option of war, because if you push things in this direction, you will destroy the country and the last available opportunity to save and awaken it through its oil and gas wealth.” As well as on the issue of the International Monetary Fund, Jumblatt called “Hezbollah” for a clear and explicit position regarding the negotiation process with the Fund, warning “Hezbollah” that the financial and economic salvation for Lebanon will only be through the IMF, “but if you let the country collapse, it will collapse on you and on everyone.”
As the Hezbollah delegation, which included Khalil, Liaison and Coordination Unit official, Wafiq Safa, was keen not to give definitive and satisfactory answers to Jumblatt’s questions, the sources reported that the delegation was satisfied with the presidential issue by affirming “openness to discussion in all options,” and expressed in what He relates to the IMF that there was no “principal objection” to negotiations with it, but stressed the need to “examine many details”. As for the maritime demarcation issue with Israel, Hezbollah’s answer was unequivocal: “We do not have an obsession with war, but if the Israelis persist and the state abandons its role, we will not remain idly by,” referring to the seriousness of its readiness for all scenarios, including the “war” scenario.
