Beirut, Lebanon – Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Thursday that Lebanon is committed to maintaining excellent and constructive relations with neighbouring Syria, as both countries face shared challenges and opportunities for growth.
“We seek ties that serve the interests of both nations and lead to prosperity,” Aoun stated, emphasizing that “any suffering is shared by both sides,” according to Syria’s state news agency (SANA).
The president also revealed that border demarcation efforts, both land and maritime, have been initiated with Syria, with the involvement of the United States, France, and Saudi Arabia.
Read also: Dozens of Syrian Refugees Voluntarily Return from Lebanon
Aoun added that Lebanon has raised the issue of Syrian refugees currently residing in the country, as well as cross-border drug smuggling, as part of a memorandum submitted to U.S. officials.
Earlier this year, in early February, Aoun held a phone call with Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara, as confirmed by a statement from the Syrian presidency. During the call, Aoun congratulated Al-Sharaa on taking over Syria’s transitional leadership and stressed the importance of bolstering diplomatic cooperation to promote peace and security for both peoples.
The Syrian statement highlighted that President Al-Sharaa reaffirmed Syria’s historical and geographic ties with Lebanon, underscoring a long legacy of mutual relations between the two nations.
This follows a previous statement in January, in which Al-Sharaa told Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati that Syria remains equidistant from all Lebanese political groups, signaling neutrality and support for Lebanon’s internal unity.
