An-Nahar: Military discussions during Murr΄s visit to Damascus were successful

29-01-2009

An-Nahar daily quoted Thursday a close source to Defense Minister Elias al-Murr saying that the detailed military discussions during the latter's visit to Damascus were "very successful."
Military affairs were discussed in detail between Murr and his Syrian counterpart, General Hassan Turkmani, and the accompanying military delegations on Wednesday in Damascus. Later, Murr and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad discussed the matter too, the source said.

The source also said the talks were very serious and were held in accordance with the previously prepared files by each delegation concerning the control of the borders, adding this gave hope that the implementation might occur soon.

In the discussions 300 border centers on the Syrian side and 80 border centers on the Lebanese side were to be established, as well as conducting patrols on the borders for the surveillance of 365 kilometers. The stretch would include 82 border crossings where smuggling was taking place, the source said.

He noted the Lebanese delegation explained its practical stance based on a map prepared by the army, and then the Syrians proposed their view based on a parallel map. There was extensive discussion of the technical and military points, amid a clear Lebanese-Syrian decision to control the border and to counter smuggling and terrorists' sneaking in, the source said.

The two delegations met for three hours then Murr met Assad who had been informed of the meeting's outcome. The Syrian president expressed readiness to control the borders, stop smuggling, and counter terrorism in what complied with Lebanon and Syria's common interest, the source said.

The source concluded Murr was welcomed in Damascus as a defense minister, adding he was happy with the visit's results, since Syria gave a clear impression that it wanted to open a new page with Lebanon as a message to the international community of its commitment in this regard.