On President al-Assad's visit to Lebanon

The London based al-Sharq al-Awsat daily said that a well-informed Syrian media source denounced information rumored in media and political sources in Lebanon about the date of President Bashar al-Assad's visit to Lebanon which was set by these media as to be on the first ten days of next year, 2001.

In statements to the said paper the Syrian source denied any date to have been set for this visit.

The source added that the meeting indicated by these information between President al-Assad and the Maronite patriarch Nasrullah Sfeir might not be made in Lebanon. And in case it takes place during this visit or in any other occasion, it will be not of an official nature on the ground it will be a dialogue with one of the religious references in Lebanon.

On the possibility of Patriarch Sfeir's visit to Syria during the visit of Pope John Paul II to it in next Spring, the Syrian source said that: " Damascus doors are opened for all Lebanese," noting that will be treated by what he deserves as a religious figure, no more, no less."

On the re-deployment of the Syrian troops in Lebanon, the source denied had denied what was rumored in this regard, noting that what is taking peace now is a routine move to the forces according to the requirement of logistic and training needs.