Syria is to put the Taif accord into force

Syria underlined on Thursday strong keenness on cooperation with UN Secretary General Special envoy Terji Roed Larsen, and reiterated commitment to implement the Taif agreement as well bilateral accords with Lebanon.

An official source said Syria is expressing eagerness to cooperate with the UN Secretary General envoy to execute his mission in the best formula possible.

"On this basis, what Syria has carried out of significant withdrawals until now and what she will do later will be in agreement with Lebanon on the basis of the Taif accord and the mechanism it entails," Deputy Foreign Minister Walid al-Mualem said in a statement.

He noted that Syria sees the acceleration of withdrawals speed requires enabling the Lebanese army and internal security troops to fill the gap in a way "that does not damage the security of Lebanon and Syria." The statement emphasized Syria's interest to fully accomplish the investigation into the assassination of late former Lebanese Prime Minister Rfic Hariri and his companions as soon as possible.

"Syria is ready to extend any help that Lebanon may ask in the current investigations in addition to what Lebanon may ask of other international and Arab aid in this respect," Mualem said.