“Lebanon Debate”
In a step that reflects an official move to reactivate Lebanese-Syrian relations within a new approach based on direct cooperation between the institutions of the two countries, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam visited the Syrian capital, Damascus, at the head of a ministerial delegation that included Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Mitri, Minister of Energy and Water Joe Seddi, Minister of Economy and Trade Amer Al-Bassat, Minister of Public Works and Transport Fayez Rasamni, in addition to the advisor to the Prime Minister, Ambassador Claude Al-Hijal.
The visit witnessed extensive meetings with Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa and a number of Syrian ministers, which included discussions that dealt with political, security, economic, and living issues, in addition to issues of borders, energy, transportation, displaced persons, and trade cooperation, before a joint press conference was held during which Lebanese officials presented the most prominent results of the visit and what was agreed upon between the two sides.
At the press conference, President Salam announced: “I was pleased, along with the government delegation, to visit dear Syria and meet with His Excellency President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, who also received us in an expanded meeting that included members of the Lebanese delegation and their Syrian counterparts. After the bilateral talks, I would like to thank His Excellency the President for the warm reception and generous hospitality.”
He added: “We visited Damascus to continue consultations and work to strengthen Lebanese-Syrian relations at various levels, which are relations based on trust and mutual respect for the sovereignty of the two countries and on common interests. I am important to confirm that today we have made great progress in addressing our common issues, especially those that were outstanding, in a positive spirit and keenness to cooperate without reservation or hesitation, and I am confident that the results of this cooperation will appear soon.”
He pointed out, “This visit did not only come to follow up on what began more than a year ago, but also to launch new initiatives in joint work, and reaffirm the importance of the relationship between the two countries in various fields and at the level of all official institutions. We are fully aware that strengthening the relationship between the two countries opens the door wide for interaction and cooperation between the economic, social and cultural forces in the two countries, especially in light of the accelerating regional challenges.”
Salam explained that the two sides agreed to continue consultation on regional files for the benefit of both countries. Discussions also took place to follow up on the implementation of the agreement signed between the two countries regarding the transfer of sentenced prisoners from Lebanese prisons to Syria, in addition to following up on addressing the issue of Syrian detainees and revealing the fate of the missing and forcibly disappeared in the two countries.
He stressed that the discussions also stressed the need to control the Lebanese-Syrian border and prevent smuggling in all its forms, in addition to organizing crossings and facilitating the movement of passengers and goods. There was also agreement on the necessity of continuing dialogue and cooperation in the file of the safe and dignified return of displaced Syrians to their country and organizing Syrian workers in Lebanon.
He pointed out that the research dealt in detail with the files of land transport, trucks, shared transport, taxis, and railway connectivity between Lebanon and Syria, in addition to the conditions of border crossings and bridges, where it was agreed to expedite the treatment of urgent needs related to the operation of border bridges and organizing movement on them, in addition to addressing the problems of inspection, inspection, and restrictions imposed on the movement of goods and people between the two countries.
He also pointed out that the research dealt with duties imposed on exports and transit fees, in addition to enhancing cooperation in the areas of specifications, technical standards and laboratory tests. It was also agreed to develop bilateral economic and trade relations, including preferential trade and encouraging investments.
Salam revealed that the two sides agreed to speed up the launch of a joint Lebanese-Syrian business council, with its first meeting being held in Damascus in the coming weeks. He also pointed out that the discussions dealt with activating and improving the electrical connection to facilitate Lebanon’s import of electricity from and through Syria, in addition to working to conclude an agreement to transit natural gas as soon as possible.
He stressed that communication and political consultation between the two countries will continue, noting that cooperation will not be limited to the files mentioned, but will expand to other areas, and to this end, joint committees will be established, some of which are technical, with intensification of communication at the ministerial level.
In response to a question regarding the presence of Hezbollah cells inside Syria, Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Mitri said: “Syria’s internal security is the responsibility of the Syrian authorities and does not directly concern the Lebanese. Therefore, I did not ask this question to the Syrian Minister of the Interior, but she confirmed that Syria is doing everything it can to maintain its security, and that maintaining its security also contributes to maintaining the security of Lebanon.”
Mitri added: “I discussed with the Syrian Minister of Interior the importance of Lebanese-Syrian security coordination, especially on the border. We also discussed a number of civil issues of concern to Syrians in Lebanon, including birth and marriage documents and certificate authentications, because the Ministry of Interior is not only concerned with security affairs, but also with a number of administrative and civil files.”
President Salam intervened during the press conference, saying: “I frankly confirm that we will not, in any way, allow Lebanon to be reused as a platform to insult any of its Arab brothers, especially Syria.”
For his part, Energy Minister Joe Seddi said: “We held a meeting with the Syrian Minister of Energy, and we made important progress regarding the agreement to transit natural gas through Syrian territory, and we are working to complete it soon, God willing. The technical teams have also begun working on studying the possibility of importing energy directly from Syria.”
He added: “As for the tripartite electrical interconnection with Jordan, the World Bank and the Arab Fund are currently studying the project, and according to what we heard, its implementation will take about a year. The meeting was very useful, and the work had begun weeks ago, and this meeting is the third in this framework.”
In turn, Minister of Economy Amer Al-Bassat said: “We discussed measures that would lead to lowering prices for Lebanese exports, and reducing burdens and costs on trucks, because the problem of delays and commercial costs between Lebanon and Syria constitutes a very big crisis, whether in terms of laboratories and measurements or the financial cost.”
He added: “We discussed these issues in detail with the Syrian side, and agreed to form a committee that meets periodically to carefully address all technical issues. We also do not want to limit the relationship with Syria to the commercial aspect only, but there are also investment and production areas that can establish greater economic integration between the two countries.”
He pointed out that “the Supreme Committee for Lebanese and Syrian Businessmen will be formed within days, and it is expected that its first meeting will be held soon in Damascus with the aim of strengthening communication between the Lebanese and Syrian private sectors and addressing truck and transit issues.”
As for the Minister of Public Works and Transport, Fayez Rasamny, he explained: “We agreed to speed up the procedures to allow Lebanese trucks and drivers to enter Syria and unload goods, especially related to Lebanese products and industries, and we have received promises of positive answers in this context.”
Regarding the political aspect, President Salam said in response to journalists’ questions: “We are turning the page on the past. Since my first visit to Damascus and my meeting with President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, we emphasized that we want to build new Lebanese-Syrian relations based on mutual respect and non-interference in each other’s affairs. Just as Lebanon has long suffered from Syrian interference in its affairs, Syria has also suffered from interference by Lebanese parties in its affairs.”
He added: “Today we want to raise this relationship to a higher level of cooperation, and for this reason I came with the ministers concerned with the sectors that include outstanding files that concern the two countries, such as the economy, energy, transportation, and works, in addition to Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Mitri, who is following up within a ministerial committee the joint files, especially security and the prisoner file, which we have begun to address.”
He continued: “In addition to the files discussed, I also proposed the idea of establishing a higher and permanent coordination framework between the two countries, after the end of work in the Lebanese-Syrian Supreme Council in its previous form, and perhaps a higher ministerial committee will be established similar to the joint committees that exist between Lebanon and Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, such that it meets at the level of heads of government.”
Salam concluded by noting that the research also addressed the regional challenges and the ongoing negotiation paths in the region, saying: “We discussed the many challenges facing the region and the necessity of communication and coordination regarding them in a way that serves the interests of the two countries. This also includes the repercussions of the ongoing war in the region, and it also includes the position of each party in the ongoing negotiation paths.”
