New Phalange chairman for strengthening relations with Syria

Lawyer Munir al-Haj, the new chairman for the Lebanese Phalange Party said in a statement to the United Arab Emirates daily al-Bayan published on Tuesday that, "Christian forces are determined to participate in restrengthening relations with Syria."

Al-Haj added, "We abide ourselves in our relations with sisterly Syria, to what has been stated in al-Taif accord, and we assure that we will deal with Syria much deeper than stated in texts."

Al-Haj continued, "At all times we will work to maintain relations with Syria, and develop and boost them within positive frames through rationalizing any dialogue between our two sides. And we will concentrate on what is positive and eliminate the negatives."