Hariri, Assad Ace Three Rounds of Bilateral Talks, Bilateral Relations Extend
Local Editor
Since Sunday, Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Syrian President Bashar Assad have been conducting meetings, including signing almost 18 agreements between countries under the headline of mutual interests.
On their third meeting on Monday, both officials discussed means of translating and conducting the articles of the agreements of both parts.
According to the Syrian state-run news agency SANA, reported that Assad and Hariri resumed their talks, in which they expressed satisfaction over the steps that were achieved in developing relations between the two.
Assad prepared a lunch meeting with Hariri and Turkish Foreign Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu who happened to be visiting, where the three parts discussed their countries' relations, aiming at boosting them. The talks included serious discussions concerning recent events in the region, especially over the Palestinian cause.
The Lebanese-Syrian agreements signed by Lebanese Prime Minister and his Syrian counterpart Naji Al Otri, included investment protection, trade, pharmaceutical products, shipping, tourism and taxation.
Politics also had its share where a statement issued later, containing what both parts agreed upon, also highlighted the importance of realizing Arab solidarity and intensifying coordination in the political issues.
The Lebanese-Syrian Follow-up and Coordination Commission praised the progress in the Syrian-Lebanese relations, where it also stressed on both sides to commit and 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". SANA news agency reported.
Demarcation of border lines between both countries was mentioned, yet was not specified and finalized during the meetings, which spreads expectations that further meetings and agreements are to come to light between both countries.
According to SANA, in the statement issued later after all agreements were signed, both parts 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 outline 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.
Both countries went previously through many calamities in their relations, to the extent where all diplomatic relations were threatened and put at stake of being demolished.
The Syrian-Lebanese relations now are clearly, and hopefully, going on the right track, where both countries' interests are to maintain their people's sovereignty and liberty against any enemy aggression and interference.
The people of Lebanon and Syria all hope for better relations between the two countries, which in history used to be one, hoping for flourishing into best neighboring countries.
Since Sunday, Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Syrian President Bashar Assad have been conducting meetings, including signing almost 18 agreements between countries under the headline of mutual interests.
On their third meeting on Monday, both officials discussed means of translating and conducting the articles of the agreements of both parts.
According to the Syrian state-run news agency SANA, reported that Assad and Hariri resumed their talks, in which they expressed satisfaction over the steps that were achieved in developing relations between the two.
Assad prepared a lunch meeting with Hariri and Turkish Foreign Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu who happened to be visiting, where the three parts discussed their countries' relations, aiming at boosting them. The talks included serious discussions concerning recent events in the region, especially over the Palestinian cause.
The Lebanese-Syrian agreements signed by Lebanese Prime Minister and his Syrian counterpart Naji Al Otri, included investment protection, trade, pharmaceutical products, shipping, tourism and taxation.
Politics also had its share where a statement issued later, containing what both parts agreed upon, also highlighted the importance of realizing Arab solidarity and intensifying coordination in the political issues.
The Lebanese-Syrian Follow-up and Coordination Commission praised the progress in the Syrian-Lebanese relations, where it also stressed on both sides to commit and 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". SANA news agency reported.
Demarcation of border lines between both countries was mentioned, yet was not specified and finalized during the meetings, which spreads expectations that further meetings and agreements are to come to light between both countries.
According to SANA, in the statement issued later after all agreements were signed, both parts 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 outline 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.
Both countries went previously through many calamities in their relations, to the extent where all diplomatic relations were threatened and put at stake of being demolished.
The Syrian-Lebanese relations now are clearly, and hopefully, going on the right track, where both countries' interests are to maintain their people's sovereignty and liberty against any enemy aggression and interference.
The people of Lebanon and Syria all hope for better relations between the two countries, which in history used to be one, hoping for flourishing into best neighboring countries.
