Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani said that he extends his sincere thanks and appreciation to the President of the Republic Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Speaker of the House of Representatives Nabih Berri, the Grand Mufti of the Republic Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian, the Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai and the accompanying bishops, Walid Jumblatt, the head of the Phalange Party, Sami Gemayel, the head of the Lebanese Forces Party, Samir Geagea, and the Mufti of Tripoli, Sheikh Muhammad Tariq Imam. His accompanying delegation, and Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Mitri, for their generous hospitality and warm reception.
Al-Shaibani added that he thanks the people of Tripoli for the warm welcome and the generosity and affection they extended to him, considering that this reflects the depth of the fraternal ties between the Syrian and Lebanese peoples.
He stressed that Syria and Lebanon are today taking a new step in the path of bilateral relations, on the foundations of mutual respect for sovereignty, good neighborliness, and constructive cooperation that serves the common interests of the two peoples.
He pointed out that the two sides are establishing a new phase of bilateral relations by signing the agreement to establish the joint Syrian-Lebanese Higher Committee, to be a permanent institutional framework that enhances cooperation and coordination between the two countries in the political, economic, security, cultural and social fields, in addition to transport, energy, water, health and communications.
Al-Shaibani concluded by stressing that Syria will remain an active partner in consolidating stability and promoting development, stressing that direct dialogue with the Lebanese state and practical cooperation on files of common interest constitute the way to building a more secure and prosperous future for the two countries and the region.
