Syria's Acting Leader Commits to Impartiality in Lebanon Affairs
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Damascus, Jan 11 (NationPress) Syria's acting leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, committed to impartiality in Lebanon's affairs during a joint press conference with the visiting Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Saturday.
"We will maintain an equidistant stance from all Lebanese," al-Sharaa stated at the press briefing. He highlighted that both parties had also addressed topics such as smuggling between the two nations, border issues, and Syrian deposits held in Lebanese banks.
"We are aiming for strategic, long-lasting relations grounded in robust foundations," he remarked.
Mikati supported this view, emphasizing the interconnected fates of the two countries.
"If Syria thrives, so does Lebanon," he expressed, hoping that Damascus' efforts to address the Syrian refugee crisis could ease the burden on Lebanon. Mikati also praised the interim Syrian authorities' openness to dialogue, noting that his conversations with al-Sharaa included regional challenges and methods to strengthen bilateral relations.
No formal agreements were disclosed by either side, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
Relations between the two neighboring nations have recently soured. Syria has recently enforced restrictions on cross-border movement in response to security incidents along their shared border. Previously, Lebanese citizens could enter Syria without a visa, relying solely on identification documents.
The border area has witnessed multiple confrontations between Syrian armed factions and Lebanese forces, leading to casualties among Lebanese military personnel.
Mikati's visit to Damascus marks the first by a sitting Lebanese premier to Syria in over a decade.
He is accompanied by a high-level delegation that includes Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib and senior security officials. This visit follows a formal invitation from al-Sharaa, extended during a phone call last week.
The meeting occurred as Syria undergoes a political transition following the ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad in December.
Al-Sharaa, who spearheaded the coalition that removed al-Assad, is currently overseeing efforts to stabilize Syria and restore its regional relationships.
