Presidents al-Assad, Lahoud minutes; Khouri's statement
Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 3/8/2005

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad and his Lebanese counterpart Emile Lahoud signed the minutes of the Supreme Syrian-Lebanese Council meeting in Damascus on Monday in the presence of the two states delegations.

Secretary General of the Council, Nassri Khouri, read out the joint statement in which he said the meeting was held under difficult situations and challenges facing the two states.

He added that Syria and Lebanon are determined to further enhance the process of cooperation and coordination and implement the treaties and agreements signed by them in a transparent and specified way for their best benefits.

Khouri said both sides are determined to correct any failure that could involve the process of cooperation in the framework of the existing establishments set up in line with the Syrian-Lebanese Treaty of fraternity and Cooperation which is still the only legal and proper framework to tackle any difficulties and to outline future prospects of those relations.

He said both states reiterated commitment to the Taif Accord and its mechanisms as well as its sub-agreements, and renewed commitment to joint strategic principles in facing up to the current and future challenges and the work for a just and comprehensive peace in line with the UN relevant resolutions, "Madrid term of reference" and the "land-for-peace formula".

The two sides also reiterated respect of all the international resolutions, including 1559, stressing that these resolutions should be implemented without selectivity or double-standard policy.

The Council Secretary General said Syria and Lebanon decided to withdraw the Arab Syrian forces positioned in Lebanon to the Bekaa region and the entrance of the western Bekaa in Dahr al-Baidar until Hamman- Mudeirej-Ein Dara before the end of this month.

He added the two sides called on the Joint Military Committee to reach an agreement-- within one month at maximum after the withdrawal of the Syrian forces to the Bekaa region according to the item ( A) of Taif Accord -- on the size and period of presence of these forces in the above-mentioned region. This agreement shall decide the size and period of presence of the Syrian forces in the above-mentioned regions and determine the form of relationship between the authorities of the Lebanese state and these forces in the place to which they withdraw.

Khouri said that by the end of the period agreed upon regarding the presence of the Syrian forces according to the Item ( B), the two Syrian and Lebanese governments shall agree on the completion of the withdrawal of the remaining Syrian troops.

He added the Joint Follow-up and Coordination Committee shall be called on to meet as soon as possible co-chaired by both states' premiers to follow up on the work of joint ministerial committees and get acquainted with what had been carried out during the previous stage. This committee shall meet on bi-annual basis.

Khouri said the Security and Defense Committee shall be called to meet as soon as possible to reconsider the formation of the Joint Defense and Security, the Military and Security as well as the Technical Committee as stated by the Defense and Security Agreement in order to outline executive programs of the Agreement. This Committee shall meet regularly once every three months.

He added that the Foreign Relations Committee is called on to meet as soon as possible to form a joint follow-up committee and outline a joint program of action to confront the existing challenges. This Committee will meet once every two months.

All the other joint ministerial committees, particularly the Economic and Social one, are called on to continue regular meetings and, if needed, shall be asked to accelerate the base of implementation of the agreements signed between both countries.

The Joint Follow-Up Committee is asked to outline an executive program of the joint agreement in the field of businesses and report to the Supreme Syrian-Lebanese Council within three months to be approved.

The Joint Financial Committee is asked to present a study to the Council on the possibility of reaching "joint customs wall" within three months to be studied, Khouri said.

He added that Economic Committee is also demanded to outline a vision on proper means and mechanism to reach economic integration within three months.

The statement said the two sides had taken these decisions on the basis of the Taif Accord, the 4th Article of the 1991 Syrian-Lebanese Fraternity, Cooperation and Coordination Treaty, and out of their commitment to the UN Charter as well as respect of the international resolutions.

Previous Stories:
  Al-Assad's speech before the People's Assembly   (3/7/2005)
  Al-Assad meets with Lahoud in Damascus, Syrian forces prepare for withdrawal   (3/7/2005)
  Berri call for participation in tomorrow's mass rally   (3/7/2005)

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