Lebanese president receives Syrian premier

President Emil Lahoud of Lebanon underlined necessity of continued cooperation between Syria and Lebanon, particularly in the current complicated circumstances to "face the challenges targeting the Arab nation."

During a meeting with Syrian Premier Naji Otari on Monday, both sides talked about the latest developments in the region as well as the Arab and international arenas. Both sides reviewed the outcomes of the meeting of the Syrian-Lebanese Economic and Social Committee.

Meantime, Otari said Lebanon and Syria reject yielding to foreign dictations and pressures, asserting that "relations between Syria and Lebanon are based on coordination, cooperation and fraternity agreement that protects the two states' interests and security."

In a press conference Monday with Lebanese counterpart Omar Karami, Otari reiterated Syria's keenness on Iraq's territorial integrity, security and stability.

For his part, Karami underscored that political and economic coordination and cooperation between the two states aims at facing the current challenges.

"The agreements we have achieved and the bases we laid for developing and deepening relations between the two states contribute to consolidating healthy relations that secure the higher interest of our countries and peoples," Karami added.