Beirut, May 22 (SANA) Lebanese Information Minister Paul Morcos said Friday that Lebanon is seeking to open a new chapter in its relations with Syria based on state-to-state cooperation and shared interests, stressing efforts to strengthen bilateral coordination across multiple sectors.
During a press conference, Morcos said Lebanon had initiated a request to terminate the mandate of the Lebanese-Syrian Higher Council through a draft law currently before parliament, considering that the most suitable alternative would be the establishment of a joint higher committee between the two countries.
He explained that the proposed body would be modeled on similar committees Lebanon maintains with Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan, chaired by the prime ministers of both countries and involving the relevant ministers.
Morcos pointed to tangible progress in several areas since the latest visit to Syria, particularly in the electricity interconnection file, noting that Lebanon’s Energy and Water Minister remains in daily contact with the Syrian side and that rapid progress is being achieved.
He added that the Minister of Public Works and Transport is also maintaining continuous coordination with Syrian officials regarding transportation, truck transit, border crossings, and related matters.
He noted that the first session of the joint Lebanese-Syrian Business Council is expected to be held by the end of next June, with preparations currently underway by the Ministry of Economy and Trade.
On Thursday, Foreign and Expatriates Minister of Syria, Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani received a phone call from Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to discuss ways of enhancing bilateral cooperation in various sectors.
Both sides stressed the importance of strengthening joint cooperation, particularly in the economic, trade, and energy sectors, and emphasized continued efforts to establish the proposed coordination committee as a practical outcome of the Lebanese prime minister’s recent visit to Damascus.
KhA
