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Lebanon, Syria enhancing cooperation and closer relations

- George Haddad

Sunday, 18 July 2010 11:23

Syria (Damascus) - Lebanese Premier Saad Eddin al-Hariri and Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Naji Otri discussed on Sunday cooperation between Syria and Lebanon and the mutual desire to enhance relation, the state news agency reported .

"Lebanese-Syrian ties were in the past few months put in a foundation stage, at a time where the two countries' economic and trade relations are not yet as they should be," Hariri's advisor Mohammad Chatah told local Voice of Lebanon radio station.

"Sunday's visit will mainly reactivate the two countries' ties in a practical course, especially on the economic level," he said.

He added the visit aims at establishing "a new relation between Lebanon and Syria, which they haven't ever witnessed before."

Hariri's visit to Damascus on Sunday is unprecedented because almost half of cabinet members from around the political spectrum would be joining him.

The Lebanese team will sign 14 agreements and 6 protocols and memorandums of understanding with Syria.

Otri and al-Hariri stressed the two countries' interest in consolidating cooperation within the framework of the Fraternity, Cooperation and Coordination Treaty in the economic, political and development fields.

They also highlighted the importance of activating the role of the Syrian-Lebanese Higher Council and coordinating activities and stances in foreign policy.

The two sides reviewed the cooperation topics listed on the agenda of the Follow-up and Coordination Commission, draft agreements and memos of understanding to be signed to give an impetus to the bilateral relations in all cooperation fields and support their national firm principles against challenges.

Later on, the Syrian-Lebanese Follow-up and Coordination Commission held a meeting co-chaired by Premiers Otri and Hariri.

The commission discusses outcome of the Syrian_ Lebanon Preparatory Committee's meetings held on 12th June and remarks made by both sides to amend and develop the previous agreements and ink new ones to serve the two countries' interests and keep pace with the developments witnessed by Syria and Lebanon during the last period.

Otari was reported as saying that there are high expectations from Hariri's visit that is aimed at "restoring warmth between the two nations".

He said: "It is important to us that Lebanon be strong and prosperous because Lebanon derives its strength from Syria and Syria derives its strength from Lebanon and this is what we will try to convey to Hariri."

The prime minister is not scheduled to hold talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, but sources from the Lebanese delegation did not rule out a meeting.

Hariri and his political allies, backed by the West and Saudi Arabia, won a majority of seats in parliament in June 2009, edging out an alliance led by the Syrian-backed Shiite Hezbollah.

The two blocs now share power in a government of national unity.

The Syrian army maintained military presence in its small neighbor of Lebanon until 2005 following the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, father of Saad Hariri.

The opening of embassies in May 2009 came after the two neighbors agreed in August 2008 to establish diplomatic ties for the first time since their independence in 1940. (SANA, Xinhua, Lebanon Radio and News agency)

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