By NNN-SANA,
Beirut : Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem has said that Damascus is expecting the visit of Lebanese President Michel Sleiman at the nearest opportunity.
“Ties between the two countries are under serious discussion between high-level leadership in Syria and Lebanon,” he said.
“Relations between Presidents Bashar al-Assad and Michel Suleiman is strong and can be invested to solve a lot of issues between both countries … Syria is optimistic Lebanon is going on his way to solve its internal problems after the al-Doha agreement, the election of a consensus president and the formation of national unity government … and we hope next spring we will see elections that put Lebanon on the right solution,” Al-Moallem told a news conference after meeting Suleiman here Monday.
Referring to Fuoad Siniora, the prime minister of Lebanon’s national unity government, al-Moallem said: “Siniora is the premier of a national unity and with this capacity the two governments will deal with different issues … we are in need for exchanging visits and activating work to reach a common ground in order to build a future relations based on equality.”
Al-Moallem pointed out to Syria’s determination to open an embassy in Lebanon and exchange diplomatic representation between the two countries, saying “opening embassies between the two states will not affect the movement between them.”
On the signed agreements between Syria and Lebanon, al-Moallem clarified that there are some voices in Lebanon that say some agreements are unfair for Lebanon, and in turn, there are some in Syria who see a number of agreements unjust for Syria, adding “no one holds relations with the other side by force, and the ministers in both countries will decide what they want.”
Regarding the acceptance of Syrian reconciliation with some Lebanese parties, al-Moallem underlined that “Syria’s heart is broad and contains all,” adding “as head of the Arab summit, Syria seeks the achievement of Arab solidarity.”
On the negotiations with Israel and the possibility of including Lebanon, al-Moallem said “we are in the stage of indirect negotiations via Turkish mediation, and when we reach an agreement on the basic requirments of peace based on the land-for-peace formula, we will move to direct talks, and including Lebanon in the talks or not is a Lebanese decision.”
As for border demarcation between both countries, the foreign minister said “nothing is in the way, but the problem is in the Israeli occupation of the Lebanese lands in Sheba Farms and Kfar Shuba.”
Regarding media campaigns by some Lebanese parties against Syria, al-Maollem said ” Syria has never responded to such campaigns though some of are extremely undermining … we look at things with their essence and what concerns us is the Lebanese people.”