From Tal Ramadan
(Reuters) – Lebanon and Syria will work together to secure their land borders, as well as demarcate land and sea borders, Lebanon’s interim Prime Minister Najib Mikati said in Damascus on Saturday.
In the first trip by a Lebanese prime minister to neighboring Syria in 15 years, Mikati addressed a joint press conference in Damascus with Syria’s de facto leader Ahmed al-Shara.
Al-Sharaa said they discussed issues including smuggling between the two countries, border challenges and Syrian deposits in Lebanese banks.
Both sides agreed to establish committees to deal with these issues and provide support.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said after Thursday’s election that there was a historic opportunity for “serious and equal dialogue” with Syria.
During most of the Assad family’s five decades of rule, Syria exerted significant influence over Lebanon, maintaining a military presence there for 29 years until 2005, despite widespread opposition from many Lebanese.
