Al-Assad held a historic visit to Lebanon
Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 3/4/2002

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday evening returned back to Damascus following a short official visit to Lebanon.

At the Syrian- Lebanese border point the al-Assad was seen off by the Lebanese President Emil Lahoud, the prime minister Rafiq al-Hariri, the parliament speaker Nabih berri, the deputy premier Issam Fares and the secretary general of the Syrian- Lebanese higher council Nasri al-Khouri.

Earlier in the day the Syrian President at the people and official levels in Lebanon was greatly welcomed upon arriving at Beirut's international airport, including the Lebanese President, prime minister, parliament speaker and high ranking Lebanese officials concerned.

The Syrian president was accompanied by an official delegation including the speaker of parliament Abdul Qader Qaddoura, the prime minister Muhammad Mustafa Miro and the foreign minister Farouk al-Shara.

At the Lebanese Baabda palace, the two Presidents held a bilateral meeting. Then the two presidents presided over a meeting for the Syrian- Lebanese higher council. The meeting was attended by the Syrian prime minister, speaker of parliament and foreign minister accompanying President al-Assad, while the Lebanese side was attended by al-Hariri, Berri, Fares and al-Khouri.

By the end of the meeting of the Syrian- Lebanese higher council, the two presidents signed the joint minute of meetings which included decisions taken by the council.

In conclusion of the meetings, the secretary general of the Syrian- Lebanese higher council Nasri al-Khouri read the following joint statement.

The two Presidents held talks dealt with bilateral relations between the two countries and means of developing, strengthening and deepening them at various levels. The two Presidents also held a round of talks dealt with current conditions at the Arab and regional levels in light of recent developments. They also presided over a meeting for the Syrian- Lebanese higher council in its fourth session.

The Lebanese President welcomed President al-Assad in his "second country" Lebanon, considering that this visit embodies continued fraternal contacts between the two states and the commitment of Syria to Lebanon's unity, security and Arab identity as well as the common stand of the two states in withstanding all dangers, foremost being the Israeli challenge.

President Lahoud said that the Syrians and the Lebanese are brothers bound together to ties of kinship and that "the wise leadership set by the late Syrian President Hafez al-Assad will be always the minaret for protecting and developing this relations for the interests of the two brotherly countries and peoples."

President Lahoud stressed that Syria's stand in support of Lebanon to liberating its territories from the Israeli occupation and support for the Lebanese national resistance was among the first and main pillars which forced Israel to pullout from most of the Lebanese territories. Events have proven during the past years concerning the Arab- Israeli conflict the rightfulness of the common strategic options adopted by the two countries.

President Lahoud stressed the importance of the visit paid by President Bashar al-Assad in this critical condition the ME region is passing and on the wake of the visit of the Arab summit to be held in Beirut by the end of the current month, considering that this will help drawing a common vision to withstand challenges of the next phase.

This visit also falls in the course of studying means of "strengthening cooperation between the two states through implementing items of the treaty of fraternity and cooperation on the ground of the remarkable ties between the two countries based on ties of kinship, the common fate and common interests."

To this effect, President Bashar al-Assad said that the victory Lebanon attained in deterring the Israeli forces from most of the Lebanese territories, came as a result of the steadfastness of the Lebanese people and their national resistance was rather another manifestation of the achievements of cooperation between Syria and Lebanon.

Al-Assad added that Syria who supports the heroic uprising of the Palestinian Intifada sees that the situation requires Arab, effective and united stances in parallel with the volume of current challenges, stressing that Syria will continue committing to the realization of a just and comprehensive peace based on UN resolutions concerned, the Madrid conference terms of reference and the land for peace formula, provided for Israel's pullout from all occupied Arab territories of 1967 including Jerusalem and dismantling all Israeli settlements and establishing the Palestinian independent state with Jerusalem as a capital as well as Israel's complete withdrawal from the Golan until June 4, 1067 border lines and from parts still occupied by the Israeli forces in south Lebanon and clinging to the right of the Palestinian refugee to return back according to UN resolution 194.

Al-Assad continued as saying that stemming from Syria's adherence to the importance of deepening Syrian- Lebanese relations and having them as an example to be followed among the Arab states, President Bashar al-Assad said that Syria has decided on: 1.. Eliminating all obstacles and restrictions the Lebanese side had earlier proposed in order to facilitate the process of products of national origin between the two states; 2.. Approving the Lebanese suggestion provided for the establishment of a dam on the " Orentos " ( al-Asi ) river at the appropriate site and on the project agreed upon to build a joint dam on the Northern Grand river ( Naher al-Kabeer al-Shemali.); 3.. Re-studying the issue of rescheduling debts Lebanon has to pay as a price of electricity for Syria from January 1st, 2003 and exempting Lebanon from 50% of the total cost of this electricity 4.. Reconsidering the price of Syrian gas sold to Lebanon in light of the suggestions proposed by the Lebanese side 5.. Cooperation with the Lebanese government in the area of encouraging agriculture in particular, and cotton cultivation in the Bekaa and also taking necessary measures for this effect; 6.. Studying the possibility of establishing a joint factory for spinning and textiles in Akkar and a joint factory for tobacco in the Bekaa and two shared oil refineries in Tripoli and south Lebanon.

The two presidents discussed the current conditions on the Arab arena, the developments of the Arab - Israeli conflict, the escalated Israeli aggressions against the Palestinian people and the Israeli threats against Lebanon and Syria.

The two sides had identical views on that Israel's aggressive policy aims at imposing a new de facto leading to striking the possibilities and opportunities of achieving the just and comprehensive peace according to the equilibrium set by the Madrid conference, based on UN security council resolutions 194, 242, 328 and 425.

The two presidents considered that any attempt that seek to settle the Arab- Israeli conflict should be based on these principles which ensure the liberation of all occupied Arab rights and gauarntee the right of return for the Palestinian people to their independent state with Jerusalem as a capital.

The two presidents agreed that the Arab summit to be held in Beirut on March 27 and 28 will be an occasion to discuss all debated issues on the hope to conclude stances inter- Arab solidarity and the steadfastness of the Palestinian people and their uprising and sincerely embodies the ambitions of the Arab people who are eager to the fact the Arab leaders will reach the foundations for a common Arab action in confrontation of the current challenges.

The two presidents stressed the two states positions in rejecting terrorism by all its forms condemning simultaneously the attempts made by Israel to invest September 11 incidents to hold equal terrorism and the right of people to resist for liberation the lands from occupation.

In light of the deliberations of the higher council, stress was laid on what stated by the speeches of President al-Assad and Lahoud on the unity of the fate and destiny between the two states in confrontation of the Israeli threats and commitment to the principles of the Syrian and Lebanese policy based on the conception of peace, justice.

The two sides discussed the status of bilateral relations in light of the report submitted by the secretary general of the Syrian- Lebanese higher council and means of developing them and their future prospects.

Discussions dealt with means of revitalizing the common departments stated in the treaty and to convene the periodical meeting of the higher council and to convene special meetings when necessary to discuss the progress of relations and drawing the general policy for cooperation and calling on all joint ministerial committees and departments stated in the treaty to convene its meetings periodically and to assign the economic and social committee to draw a plan to achieve the common Arab market and economic integration between the two states, according to the economic and social cooperation agreement signed in 1993. It was also decided to ask the joint company for transport to draw the foundation stone for the projects for rehabilitation of the of Tripoli- al-Abboudeyah, Reyyaq and Serghaya railways within two months as from this date.

It was also decided to assign al-Khouri to draw a project to amend certain items of the financial and constituent system of the higher council's general secretariat aiming at developing and modernizing it and then to submit it to the higher council for approval. The two presidents also signed a series of organizational and administrative decision pertinent to the general secretariat of the Syrian- Lebanese higher council.

Later in the day, President Lahoud held a luncheon banquet in honor of President al-Assad at Baabda palace. It was attended by members of the Syrian- Lebanese higher council.

Previous Stories:
  Lahoud discusses with Khouri activities of the Syrian- Lebanese higher council   (3/2/2002)
  Al-Assad confers with al-Khouri on Syrian- Lebanese economic cooperation   (3/1/2002)
  Miro meets with Sarraf   (1/25/2002)
  Syria provides electricity to Lebanon at an agreement between Miro, al-Hariri   (1/11/2002)
  Two electricity grid agreements between Syria and Lebanon   (7/20/2001)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search