Suleiman, Assad Summit Paves Way for New Phase

Source: Al-Manar TV, 13-8-2008
All eyes were focused Wednesday on the Syrian capital, Damascus where a Lebanese-Syrian summit would be held this afternoon, amid hopes that Presidents Michel Suleiman and Bachar al-Assad agree on starting a new phase of relations between the two countries.
The summit, the first after a long period of stagnancy in the relations between Lebanon and Syria, is regarded as important in terms of redressing the special relations that should characterize the neighbor countries, especially that all issues will be discussed on the table.
President Suleiman is to receive an official welcome in the People's Palace followed by an extended meeting with Assad and an official dinner. The Lebanese delegation accompanying Suleiman includes Lebanese Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh and Syrian-Lebanese Higher Council Secretary General Nasri Khoury.
According to a statement issued by the General Directorate of the Presidency of the Republic, the talks between presidents Suleiman and Assad will tackle "issues of common interest and the latest regional and international developments."
Well-informed sources in Syria told As-Safir that the two sides will discuss an extensive and open agenda." Both sides intend to achieve positive results," the sources said. The daily also noted that this meeting is a good starting point for renewed relations between the neighboring countries but will require extensive follow-up by both sides.
The sources noted that, at the end of the summit, the Syrian president shall hold with his Lebanese counterpart a press conference, which is the first of its kind.
The sources predicted that this summit will take "several tangible steps", alluding to the possibility of activating some pending economic issues, including the electricity, gas and transportation sectors.
SULEIMAN: MY RELATION WITH ASSAD IS BROTHERLY AND SPECIAL
Ahead of the visit, Suleiman told As-Safir that "both sides have been preparing positively for this visit."
The Lebanese President said he has excellent relations with his Syrian counterpart, Bashar al-Assad, and noted that improved relations between Lebanon and Syria would serve the interests of both countries' people. "My relation with Assad is brotherly and special," he said.
SHARAA: DAMASCUS INTERESTED IN GOOD RELATION WITH LEBANON
Meanwhile, Syrian Vice President Farouk Sharaa told Al-Manar that Damascus is interested in good relations with the Lebanese people and government and would welcome any Lebanese official, including Prime Minister Fouad Saniora.
With regard to the issue of those missing in Syria, Sharaa called for "a solution that reassures both parties; hence, the Lebanese do not complain about having any detainees in Syrian prisons, and vice versa." He said the closure of the dossier would be the real entry into the relations development.
MOALLEM: ASSAD INSTRUCTED OFFICIALS TO MAKE SULEIMAN VISIT SUCCESSFUL
For his part, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem said that Assad instructed all Syrian officials to make Suleiman's visit successful. He also said that Syria is looking forward to the future, adding that "it is up to both parties to decide whether they want to reopen wounds or heal them."
SYRIAN DAILIES HAIL SUMMIT AS "PAVING THE WAY FOR NEW PHASE IN RELATIONS"
Meanwhile, Syrian dailies devoted Wednesday's editorials to the visit, highlighting its importance in rectifying the relations between Lebanon and Syria.
In this context, the Syrian government-run daily Tishrin expressed confidence that Suleiman's visit to Damascus would be "positive" and "pave the way for a new phase in relations between the two countries, which will serve both of their interests."
For its part, Syrian daily Al-Watan expected Suleiman's visit to produce more than one "tangible result," while the official Syrian paper Al-Thawra reported that there would be "nothing but cooperation" between Suleiman and his Syrian counterpart, Assad.