Syrian-Lebanese prime ministers for wide cooperation
Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 10/12/1999

Syrian Prime Minister Mahmoud al-Zou'bi and his Lebanese counterpart, Salim al-Hoss, on Monday in Damascus chaired the meetings of the joint Syrian-Lebanese coordination and follow-up committee.

The participants in the meeting, representing the two sides, discussed various cooperation, economic, commercial, scientific and cultural issues, as well as proposals submitted for increasing bilateral cooperation and coordination.

They also reviewed the implementation of the cooperation agreements signed between the two states and their positive influence on all levels. The conferees stressed the need to overcome all obstacles impeding the implementation of the agreements reached in previous meetings.

Another meeting of the committee was held later in the day at the headquarters of the Syrian Ministry of the Economy and Foreign Trade. In this meeting, the Syrian ministers of economy, finance and agriculture discussed with their Lebanese counterparts means of developing existing education relations between the two countries. The negotiating ministers discussed bases that provide for the liberalization of exchanging national agricultural and industrial products.

Meantime, Syrian Minister of Education Muhammad Ghassan al-Halabi discussed with his Lebanese counterpart means of boosting existing education relations between the two countries.

The two ministers also discussed the importance of reactivating the work of branch committees in Syria and Lebanon to reactivate their role in the field of vocational and technical education. The two sides also referred to the importance of exchanging visits of education delegations in order to be acquainted with the educational experiences to serve common goals.

Al-Hoss and members of his accompanying delegation arrived in Damascus earlier in the day to chair the Lebanese side in the meetings of the joint Syrian- Lebanese coordinating and follow-up committee.

In an arrival statement to reporters, al-Hoss said Syria and Lebanon need to increase their coordination, integration and cooperation to set the best example on inter-Arab integration. He added, "We have to continue building our two countries to make them immune politically and stronger economically to achieve a just and comprehensive peace through the united Syrian - Lebanese tracks and in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions 242, 338 and 425 which call for the Israeli withdrawal from the Golan and South Lebanon."

Al-Hoss asserted that Lebanon is eager to strengthen bilateral relations and stressed the unity of the Syrian - Lebanese peace tracks. He continued, "The work of the joint Syrian- Lebanese coordination and follow-up committee aims at strengthening bilateral relations on all levels." He also underlined the importance of setting up the common Arab market so as to withstand the threats facing the region.

The Lebanese delegation to the meeting included the ministers of education, irrigation and housing, national defense, social affairs and labor, post and communication, water resources and electricity, finance, health, economy, trade and industry and public works and transport.

The Syrian side inlcuded the deputy prime ministers for economic affairs and services and the ministers of the interior, information, the economy, irrigation, education, finance, health, labor and social affairs, tourism, agriculture, higher education, communication, industry, transport, electricity and oil, as well as the Syrian minister of state for foreign affairs.

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