Lebanese government source reveals what Salam will discuss in Syria

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam arrived in Syria today to meet with the president of the Damascus Authority, Ahmed al-Sharaa. The visit aims to "correct the course of relations" between the two countries, according to a Lebanese government source who spoke to Agence France-Presse.

The government source said that the visit will constitute "a new foundational milestone for correcting the course of relations between the two countries, based on mutual respect," noting that Salam and al-Sharaa "will discuss issues of common interest," including controlling the security situation along the border, preventing smuggling, and closing "illegal" crossings.

According to the same source, Salam intends to discuss "re-examining old agreements and exploring the possibility of drafting new ones" in several areas, in addition to "forming a committee to investigate the numerous assassinations that took place in Lebanon, for which the former regime was accused."

The assassination of many Lebanese officials has been attributed to the former Syrian regime. The most prominent of these was former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, in an explosion blamed on Syria and later on its ally Hezbollah.

Sallam is accompanied on his visit by Foreign Minister Youssef Rjei, Defense Minister Michel Menassa, and Interior Minister Ahmed Hajjar.

Menassa was scheduled to visit Damascus last month to meet with his counterpart, Murhaf Abu Qasra, before the visit was postponed at Syria's request.

However, Saudi Arabia reconvened the two men in the presence of their Saudi counterpart, Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, in Jeddah. An agreement was reached stressing the importance of demarcating the Lebanese-Syrian border and coordinating to address security and military challenges.

T/S

ANHA