Lahoud receives Syrian parliament speaker; need for political and economic integration
Lebanon-Syria, Economics, 1/10/2004

Lebanese President Emil Lahoud stressed Friday that Syrian-Lebanese relations of cooperation and unity in facing current challenges on the regional and the international levels are an example to be followed by other Arab states.

During his meeting with the Syrian Speaker of the Assembly (Parliament), Mahmoud al-Abrash, President Lahoud underlined that the current situation requires more coordination of stances among the Arab states, stressing that the united strategy adopted by Syria and Lebanon enabled Lebanon to liberate the greatest part of its land from Israeli occupation, and ensured stability that allowed enhancing Lebanon's economic and social progress.

President Lahoud also welcomed the standing cooperation between the two parliaments, saying that cooperation completes the steps taken by other ministries in the development of economic and social fields, in implementation to the standing Agreement of Fraternity and Coordination between the two states. He reiterated Syria and Lebanon's rejection to terrorism, stressing the difference between condemned terrorism and legitimate resistance.

President Lahoud pointed out that the false propaganda campaigns against Syria and Lebanon regarding the presence of weapons of mass destruction are just means to pressure the two states to change their national stances, stressing that both states would never change their stances for they are based on right.

He called for Lebanese-Syrian media efforts to face those campaigns, and for benefiting from Lebanese and Syrian expatriates across the world, stressing their ability to form a united nuclei of a lobby to face up to the Zionist lobby which seeks to sow the seeds of discord.

The Lebanese president also reviewed the Syrian-Lebanese relations and the importance of the mutual options, stressing that only a united Arab stance could confront the conspiracies targeting the Arab Nation. He called on the UN to restore its status and role in the region. For his part, Abrash underlined that the goal of his visit to Lebanon is to consult and discuss several common issues and to get acquainted with the Lebanese achievements that have boosted the parliamentary democratic system.

Abrash praised the Lebanese leadership's national stances and the standing cooperation between the two states in the interest of both peoples and the unity of the Arab position. Later, Abrash and Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri discussed existing relations between the two states, and the latest developments in the region.

In a statement following the meeting, Abrash pointed out that the two sides discussed means of economic integration between Syria and Lebanon, adding that Primie Minister Hariri welcomed the economic integration between the two states. For his part, Hariri stated that the joint Economic Social Committee was one of the issues that the two sides concentrated on. He added that discussions also focused on the necessity of developing the economic relations to match that of the political ties. He expressed hope over the forthcoming meeting of the Higher Syrian-Lebanese Council to establish bases for developing the bilateral relations.

Previous Stories:
  Hariri confers with Syrian agriculture minister on co-operation   (1/8/2004)
  Syrian - Lebanon workshop on agriculture   (1/6/2004)
  Lahoud briefed on preparations to construct Syrian- Lebanese joint dam project   (12/27/2003)
  Lahoud for enhancing solidarity with Syria to withstand challenges   (12/16/2003)

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