Lebanon's Salam, Syria's al-Sharaa discuss bilateral ties in call

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
3 Apr 2025 00:56

The Lebanese prime minister and the Syrian president discussed bilateral ties and a future meeting in a phone call.

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Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam speaks to journalists after his meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon, on January 14, 2025. (AP)

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam held a phone call with Syria’s new leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, during which he extended his greetings on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr and congratulated him on the formation of the new Syrian government.

Salam wished the Syrian people stability and prosperity.

During the call, the two sides discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations across various fields in a manner that serves the interests of both the Lebanese and Syrian people.

Salam expressed his desire to visit Damascus soon on an official trip, leading a ministerial delegation, to discuss shared concerns and enhance cooperation between the two countries.

Lebanon, Syria look to demarcate border

In late March, Lebanese Defense Minister Michel Menassa and his Syrian counterpart Murhaf Abu Qasra signed an agreement to demarcate the border between the two countries, following talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

During the meeting, both sides agreed to form specialized legal committees in various fields and enhance coordination mechanisms to address security and military challenges, particularly those that may arise along the border. They also agreed to hold a follow-up meeting in Saudi Arabia in the near future.

In a statement, Riyadh affirmed its full support for any initiative that ensures the security and stability of both neighboring countries, contributing to broader regional stability, according to the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman welcomed the signing of what he described as a "significant agreement."

The Lebanese defense minister and his accompanying security delegation visited Saudi Arabia, where a meeting was held in Jeddah with the Syrian interim defense minister and his security delegation, under the sponsorship of the Saudi defense minister.