Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani stated on Friday, October 10, that Syria aims to overcome the “obstacles of the past” in its relationship with Lebanon, emphasizing that Damascus respects Lebanon’s sovereignty.
Speaking at a joint press conference with his Lebanese counterpart, Youssef Raji, in Beirut, al-Shibani stated, “We hold Lebanon in high regard, respect its sovereignty, and do not interfere in its internal affairs.”
The visit, which included Justice Minister Mazhar al-Wais, Syrian Intelligence Chief Hassan Salameh, and Deputy Interior Minister Major General Abdel Qader Tahan, aimed to discuss a range of bilateral issues, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency.
Al-Shibani added that Syria seeks to shift its relationship with Lebanon from a “tense security-based relationship” to a “developed political and economic partnership,” emphasizing, “We want to move with Lebanon beyond the obstacles of the past.”
Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raji announced that joint committees would be formed to address all outstanding issues between the two countries, adding, “Together we will work on a new path, one of peace, security, cooperation, and development.”
According to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), al-Shibani is scheduled to meet with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam during his one-day visit, which was made at Raji’s invitation. Discussions will focus on reviving diplomatic ties and addressing multiple bilateral files, including border demarcation and the status of detainees.
Syrian push on detainee file
The cases of Syrian detainees in Lebanon and missing Lebanese citizens in Syria top the agenda of talks between the two sides. The latest round follows reciprocal visits between Syrian and Lebanese delegations over the past months.
On September 1, a Syrian delegation visited Beirut to discuss unresolved issues, chiefly the detainee file and border demarcation, meeting Lebanese Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri. Both sides agreed to form two joint committees, one to determine the fate of about 2,000 Syrian prisoners held in Lebanon, and another to locate Lebanese citizens missing in Syria for years, while also addressing shared border issues, according to the Associated Press.
The committees held a preliminary meeting in Damascus on September 8.According to Lebanon’s al-Modon newspaper, the Syrian side, led by the head of the National Commission for the Missing, Mohammad Reda Jalkhi, requested the handover of all Syrian detainees held in Lebanese prisons, along with access to their judicial files, charges, and sentences.
The Lebanese delegation reportedly sensed a “Syrian eagerness to resolve the matter as quickly as possible,” even through the revival of earlier initiatives or an informal understanding between the two justice ministers.
Lebanon, for its part, affirmed its commitment to following due legal procedures in handling the issue. Lebanese officials also noted that most of the detainees face charges of belonging to the al-Nusra Front and of taking part in clashes against the Lebanese army between 2014 and 2017, particularly in the Arsal outskirts, and thus, they said, could not be extradited before completing their sentences.
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