Global Arab Network | Lebanon, Syria Sign 18 Agreements to strength Economic & Political Cooperation

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Lebanon, Syria Sign 18 Agreements to strength Economic & Political Cooperation

Global Arab Network - - Rabih Serrai

Sunday, 18 July 2010 19:21

Syria (Damascus) - Eighteen cooperation agreements, memos of understanding, executive programs and protocols were signed on Sunday between Syria and Lebanon at the end of the Syrian-Lebanese Follow-up and Coordination Commission meeting held in Damascus.

The meeting Minutes was signed by Prime Minister Mohammad Naji Otri and his Lebanese counterpart Saad al-Hariri.

Finance Minister of both countries signed a protocol attached to an agreement on double taxation avoidance and tax evasion prevention in relation to income tax.

Another agreement for cooperation in the tourism field was also signed between the Syrian and Lebanese Ministers of Tourism.

Four agreements for cooperation in unifying the regulations of licensing and importing veterinary medicines and agricultural pesticides and botanical and animal protection were also inked by the Agriculture Ministers of Both countries.

The Ministers of Education and Higher Education also signed an executive program and two other agreements for cooperation in the technical, vocational and technological and higher education and scientific research.

A three-year executive program was signed by the Culture Ministers of Syria and Lebanon.

The Transport Ministers signed a maritime trade agreement and Ministers of Justice signed a cooperation agreement on transfer of convicts.

A cooperation agreement for combating drug abuse was signed by the Interior Ministers and a Memo of Understanding for environment cooperation was inked between the Ministers of Environment.

The Ministers of Health signed a cooperation protocol in the field of exchanging pharmaceutical products.

The Syrian Minister of Economy and Trade and her Lebanese counterpart together with the Finance Minister signed an agreement on investment encouragement and protection and a Memo on customer protection.

Following the Commission's meeting, Otri and al-Hariri held a press conference during which they expressed satisfaction over brotherly atmosphere that prevailed the meeting and the positive results that came out.

Premier al-Hariri stressed commitment to continue communication and meetings and to translate what has been agreed upon into practical steps on the ground.

In a statement issued later, the Follow-up and Coordination Commission praised the progress in the Syrian-Lebanese relations, stressing both sides' commitment to go forward in developing these relations to higher levels based on common strategic principles and mutual respect of the sovereignty and independence of both countries.

The statement highlighted the importance of realizing Arab solidarity and intensifying coordination in the political issues.

It also showed both sides' stress on achieving just and comprehensive peace in the region according to the international legitimacy resolutions, Madrid terms of reference and the Arab peace initiative adopted at the 2002 Arab Summit held in Beirut.

Both sides stressed the right of return of Palestinian refugees, the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital and Israel's full withdrawal from the occupied Syrian Golan to the line of June 4, 1967 and from the occupied Lebanese territories of Shebaa Farms, Kafer Shouba Hills and the northern part of al-Ghajar conforming with the relevant UN resolutions.

After ratifying the signed documents and the meeting minutes of the joint ministerial and technical committees, both sides agreed on the following:

1. Stressing the importance of coordination in foreign policy as stated in the Treaty of Fraternity, Cooperation and Coordination, and assigning the foreign ministers of both countries to set up the necessary mechanisms for activating the joint committee for foreign affairs.

2. Assigning the defense and security committee to set up an executive program to doutline its work mechanisms toward implementing the Defense and Security Agreement.

3. Working on developing mechanisms for facilitating the flow of the goods and commodities between the two countries and increasing trade exchange with the aim to achieve economic integration to reach a joint market, and assigning the joint ministerial committee for economic affairs to conduct studies for this end.

4. Assigning the parties concerned in both countries to follow up on the establishment of joint border offices as agreed upon previously and development of the existing official crossings as a transitional stage.

In this context, the two sides urged more efforts in relation to border control and combating smuggling and other illegal practices.

5. Following up on linking the two countries through railways and taking the necessary measures for rehabilitating Tripoli – Homs and Riyaq – Damascus railways.

6. Establishing a joint border industrial zone and forming a joint technical committee to study the details of this project.

7. Asking the committee on demarcating land and maritime borders to embark on its work as agreed upon as soon as possible.

8. Assigning the committee on the missing persons to submit a detailed report on its work and proposals to the two countries' premiers as soon as possible to help close this file.

9. Activating the Syrian-Lebanese Businessmen Council.

10. Asking all joint ministerial committees to intensify efforts to tackle all pending issues and take proper decisions.

11. Signing 18 agreements, protocols, memos of understanding and executive programs for cooperation in various fields. (SANA)

Global Arab Network

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