Lebanon’s Mikati and Syria’s al-Sharaa discuss bilateral issues, including smuggling between the two countries and border challenges.
Lebanon’s interim prime minister, Najib Mikati, said Beirut and Damascus would work together to secure their land borders, as well as delineate land and sea borders.
In the first trip by a Lebanese prime minister to neighboring Syria in 15 years, Mikati addressed a joint press conference with Syria’s de facto leader Ahmed al-Shara in the capital Damascus on Saturday.
Al-Sharaa said they discussed issues including smuggling between the two countries, border challenges and Syrian deposits in Lebanese banks.
He said he expected a “long-term strategic relationship” with neighboring Lebanon after the crisis-hit country elected a much-needed president.
“We and Lebanon have great common interests,” al-Sharaa added.
Both sides agreed to establish committees to deal with these issues and provide support.
Al Jazeera journalist Hamza Mohamed, reporting from Damascus, said the two leaders agreed to work to prevent smuggling between the two countries.
“Smugglers were sending weapons and drugs from Syria to Lebanon,” he said.
“This was very important for the Lebanese leader and he mentioned it,” added our correspondent.
Lebanon’s eastern border is porous and notorious for smuggling.
The Lebanese armed group Hezbollah supported al-Assad with fighters during the Syrian civil war.
However, the Iran-aligned movement has weakened after the war with Israel killed its longtime leader and damaged the group’s firepower, a factor that helps Syrian rebels to to occupy Damascus last month.
Refugees
Al Jazeera’s Mohamed also said that al-Sharaa stressed that his country was trying to find a way to solve the issue of Syrian refugees in Lebanon – a major burden on the country’s crippled economy.
Lebanon hosts an estimated 1.5 million Syrian refugees, who fled the country’s civil war that began in 2011.
Some 13 years of conflict have killed more than half a million people, devastated the economy and forced millions from their homes while being internally and externally displaced.
Lebanese newly elected President Joseph Aoun said Thursday that there was a historic opportunity for “serious and equal dialogue” with Syria.
During most of the five decades of the al-Assad family’s rule, Syria exerted significant influence over Lebanon, maintaining a military presence for 29 years despite widespread opposition from many Lebanese.
Syria eventually withdrew its troops in 2005 under international pressure following the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
