SYRIANNEWS — broadcast
20261102 120000 UTC
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[00:00:00] who I was not lucky enough to complete
[00:00:04] parties discussed with them in this discussion from Beirut, lawyer and political analyst, Professor Amin Bashir, and also journalist
[00:00:07] Ramy Naim. Of course, dear viewers, this coverage
[00:00:11] will continue with you during the upcoming hour, and my colleague
[00:00:14] Fouad Al-Haj
[00:00:34] relations stands before a new
[00:00:37] stage, titled "rearrangement
[00:00:39] of priorities and opening
[00:00:43] the Minister of Labor a different page of cooperation and coordination" after
[00:00:46] Minister of Interior is in full years of tensions and challenges that have left
[00:00:48] between Syria and Lebanon on their mark on various common issues. Politically,
[00:00:51] border issues, refugees,
[00:00:55] or return to the political
[00:00:56] of the defunct regime, there was a kind transit, and security coordination
[00:00:58] were absent, and the focus was only are at the forefront of discussions. Economically, attention is turning to opportunities
[00:01:03] with Syria, and of course, to reactivate trade and facilitate the movement
[00:01:05] of transport and transit, and to open horizons of cooperation in the energy,
[00:01:09] agriculture, industry, and reconstruction
[00:01:12] sectors. In this special coverage, we open the file
[00:01:15] of Syrian-Lebanese relations in politics
[00:01:19] and economics,
[00:01:20] be facilitations from and we discuss the opportunities for rapprochement and the existing
[00:01:23] obstacles, and what the next
[00:01:27] be cumulative, meaning stage may bring for the two countries.
[00:01:32] After years of challenges that cast a shadow over
[00:01:35] political and economic relations between Syria
[00:01:38] and Lebanon, today
[00:01:41] But when we were talking the features of a new stage are emerging, a stage that opens the door to
[00:01:45] reactivating trade and enhancing cooperation
[00:01:48] and investment between the two countries. With the political
[00:01:51] change in Syria, the need arose to reorganize economic
[00:01:55] relations with Lebanon and open a new
[00:01:58] page based on mutual
[00:02:00] interests, away from the complexities of past years.
[00:02:03] The last period witnessed official movements
[00:02:06] and joint meetings that focused on reviewing
[00:02:10] have too high expectations, economic agreements and facilitating the movement of goods and trucks
[00:02:14] and addressing customs and administrative obstacles
[00:02:17] that hinder the flow of trade between the two countries.
[00:02:22] I believe that This relationship acquires strategic importance,
[00:02:24] as Syria constitutes a basic
[00:02:28] very reserved about ties, and therefore there is land passage for Lebanon to reach Arab markets, while Lebanon
[00:02:31] represents an important market and trade and service
[00:02:34] opportunities for Syrian products. Opportunities
[00:02:38] for cooperation are not limited to trade only, but
[00:02:41] did not occur with the Syrian side, extend to the sectors of industry, agriculture,
[00:02:44] energy, transport, and reconstruction,
[00:02:47] or for this former Baathist which opens the door to joint investments and contributes to boosting
[00:02:51] the production cycle in both countries. The path
[00:02:54] of economic cooperation between Damascus and Beirut cannot
[00:02:58] be separated from the nature
[00:03:00] of the transformations witnessed in the region, as
[00:03:04] the rebuilding of relations
[00:03:06] trucks. This between the two countries is linked to issues that go beyond
[00:03:09] the commercial aspect to include political coordination, border
[00:03:13] add a lot control, and issues of transit, energy, and refugees. The common interests between
[00:03:16] Syria and Lebanon
[00:03:18] data. Therefore, today, this are a real opportunity to build more balanced and sustainable
[00:03:21] relations, but translating them into a tangible
[00:03:26] countries. Syria today reality remains dependent on the ability to overcome outstanding issues and remove
[00:03:30] obstacles to trade and investment, and to transform
[00:03:34] official understandings
[00:03:36] Islamic jihadist background. All into practical steps by many
[00:03:38] the port of Tripoli. We'll stop talking about the that reflect on both
[00:04:06] and Social Affairs from side and the Lebanese
[00:04:17] the two countries. To what
[00:04:27] benefit both countries Good evening, Professor Fouad,
[00:04:36] News held with
[00:05:06] in agriculture and construction.
[00:05:31] To discuss the details of this important visit by the Lebanese
[00:05:34] delegation, we are pleased to host,
[00:05:37] dear viewers, Dr. Ali Mohammed,
[00:05:40] the economic expert, our guest here in the studio, and also
[00:05:44] Ms. Alia Mansour, the political writer from Beirut,
[00:05:47] and also Tareq Abu Zeinab, the security
[00:05:50] and political researcher, also from Beirut, the Lebanese capital. I'll start
[00:05:54] with you, Dr. Ali, after welcoming
[00:05:57] you. The relationship
[00:06:01] the economic level is not new. It dates back
[00:06:04] decades. Of course, during the period
[00:06:08] of Syrian tutelage over Lebanon. Now, things
[00:06:12] have returned to their proper course. How
[00:06:15] do you evaluate the nature of the relationship and what are the
[00:06:18] steps that can be taken to develop the form
[00:06:21] of the economic relationship between
[00:06:37] unfortunately, was at its lowest point over the past
[00:06:40] years, specifically during the period of the revolution,
[00:06:44] for political and non-political reasons that were well known.
[00:06:47] However, the Lebanese-Syrian relationship is not just a neighborly relationship or a transit
[00:06:51] relationship. It is a relationship of significant economic
[00:06:54] exchange, social relations, and trade relations. This is how the course
[00:06:57] of this relationship is supposed to be. Lebanon today considers Syria its only
[00:07:01] land outlet along approximately 375 km
[00:07:04] of borders. Therefore, the Lebanese
[00:07:08] interest is very significant with Syria
[00:07:11] for exporting Lebanese goods and everything related to the Lebanese
[00:07:14] economy through Syria to the Gulf countries, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq,
[00:07:18] etc. At the same time, Syria, I believe,
[00:07:21] complements Lebanon with regard to some industries, for example,
[00:07:24] agricultural, agricultural processing, etc., and benefiting from
[00:07:28] some ports in Lebanon, especially Beirut
[00:07:31] and Tripoli.
[00:07:34] this benefit in full has economic importance
[00:07:38] at the level of Beirut. Beirut port is now in a state of
[00:07:41] repair, as you know, after the explosion that occurred. How can there be integration
[00:07:45] between the ports of Tartous and Latakia, and also Tripoli,
[00:07:49] given that Tripoli is now the main port in Lebanon? I believe that the discussion
[00:07:53] today and the Lebanese desire to link the port of Tripoli to the Syrian
[00:07:56] borders should be at the core of the work of the technical committees
[00:07:59] and economic committees that are meeting today to achieve this integration with the ports of Tartous
[00:08:03] and Latakia and with the port of Tripoli. Lebanese-Syrian
[00:08:06] economic exchange, frankly, as a result
[00:08:10] of past circumstances, did not exceed 250 million dollars, according
[00:08:13] to Lebanese statements. Unfortunately, we do not have official
[00:08:17] statistics in Syria regarding the accuracy of these figures.
[00:08:20] However, you know that the illegal crossings that
[00:08:25] of anomalous figures to the statistical
[00:08:30] integration between the three ports, I believe, will be very good,
[00:08:34] especially since we are talking today about Iraq's
[00:08:38] plans to export Iraqi oil today with Syria
[00:08:41] and trying through Jordan, and perhaps in the
[00:08:45] future, part of the Iraqi oil exports will be through
[00:08:50] economic issue for a moment and turn to the political issue with
[00:09:06] about Tarek Mitri, this seasoned Lebanese politician who held
[00:09:10] many positions during
[00:09:13] the past years, also a remarkable ministerial delegation, ministers
[00:09:16] of labor, education, and social affairs. The importance
[00:09:20] of this visit and its implications.
[00:09:23] In my opinion, the importance of this visit, with my great appreciation for Dr. Tarek
[00:09:27] Mitri, for the Prime Minister, is that
[00:09:31] your visits started by discussing other files
[00:09:34] than the economic cooperation file. It's true that the economic cooperation
[00:09:38] file is very important, but the relationship between Syria
[00:09:41] and Lebanon cannot be limited to economics. Many
[00:09:44] pending issues between the two countries. We saw Minister
[00:09:48] Hanin Al-Sayed's visit two weeks ago to Damascus
[00:09:51] and her meeting with Social Affairs Minister Hind
[00:09:54] Aboud, and today she is present, and the visit
[00:09:57] of the Minister of Education. These are all files that concern
[00:10:00] the Syrian and Lebanese sides due to the presence of a large
[00:10:04] number of refugees. It is true that more than half of the Syrian
[00:10:08] refugees in Lebanon have returned, but the Syrian
[00:10:11] refugees who remain in Lebanon suffer from some difficulties,
[00:10:15] whether in certifying documents or even in returning to Syria.
[00:10:19] These files are very important to the Lebanese public.
[00:10:22] Cooperation is lacking. The visit, up to this moment,
[00:10:26] I knew that there was a planned visit by the Lebanese Minister of Interior,
[00:10:30] and it was postponed for reasons that have not
[00:10:33] yet been announced until minutes before we went on air.
[00:10:36] They have not yet been announced, but the main files,
[00:10:40] in addition to the economy, because the economy alone, specifically
[00:10:44] between Lebanon and Syria, cannot build a healthy
[00:10:47] relationship because there are many files, as
[00:10:51] I said, which are security, border control, preventing
[00:10:55] both parties from controlling borders,
[00:10:59] and later border demarcation, the file of Syrian refugees,
[00:11:02] the file of the return of those who remain, the file
[00:11:06] of facilities for those who will remain in Lebanon at this stage.
[00:11:09] There are many files that have recently begun to be discussed,
[00:11:13] because the first four visits were two protocol
[00:11:16] visits and two working visits, but despite that, the relevant
[00:11:19] parties to these files
[00:11:23] on the economic aspect. With these files, and also these notable
[00:11:26] visits, whether from the Lebanese side to Syria or even the Syrian side to
[00:11:30] Lebanon, how does Beirut read
[00:11:33] and monitor this time with a different eye than
[00:11:37] the eye that monitored it during the period of the defunct regime? What
[00:11:40] is the extent of the comfort that Beirut is experiencing
[00:11:44] with these political atmospheres now?
[00:11:47] In fact, there is a great deal of relief in the Lebanese
[00:11:50] street after the President of the street repeated
[00:11:54] for a year and a half his very positive words
[00:11:57] about his relationship with Lebanon and how he sees this relationship,
[00:12:01] how it should be after his announcement of
[00:12:04] many of his economic vision for cooperation between
[00:12:08] the two countries, and as I told you, recently the relief increased
[00:12:11] because the files began to be discussed. The Lebanese
[00:12:15] are concerned about economic cooperation, but there is also a
[00:12:18] file that concerns, if you ask the Lebanese street, even Lebanese
[00:12:21] politicians, away from the camera, because the camera has its calculations,
[00:12:25] the file of Syrian refugees in Lebanon is a priority
[00:12:28] for many of them. The security
[00:12:31] file is a priority for Syrians
[00:12:35] and Lebanese. These files began to be discussed seriously today.
[00:12:38] There is greater relief because these files have been put on the table.
[00:12:42] No one is saying that these files will be
[00:12:45] resolved overnight, but the Syrian side
[00:12:48] is showing that it is open to discussing them, and the Lebanese
[00:12:52] side is showing cooperation in these files.
[00:12:55] Therefore, the relationship has now begun,
[00:12:59] meaning that frankness has begun,
[00:13:02] to make the relationship healthy, because my reproach in the early stages
[00:13:05] was that there was no frankness on the files
[00:13:08] that concern both sides. It was more
[00:13:11] of a show of sympathy.
[00:13:13] Yes, please
[00:13:16] continue. The era of Bashar al-Assad cannot
[00:13:20] be compared to today, and no one
[00:13:23] has fears. Bashar al-Assad and Hafez
[00:13:27] al-Assad committed crimes against the Lebanese people,
[00:13:29] just as they committed crimes against the Syrian
[00:13:33] people. Perhaps at the moment of his downfall, even some of
[00:13:37] the Lebanese people did not realize that when Hafez al-Assad was committing
[00:13:40] massacres and assassinations in Lebanon, he was also committing
[00:13:44] massacres. The two peoples are starting to get to know each other
[00:13:47] and reconcile with each other because all of this was covered
[00:13:51] up due to the Syrian regime's dominance, due to Hezbollah's
[00:13:55] dominance over Lebanon and its security apparatus
[00:13:58] and media to a very large extent. Even when the media challenged
[00:14:02] Hezbollah, the Lebanese media, of course, its priority was
[00:14:04] Lebanon. Today, frankness has begun between
[00:14:07] the two peoples, and frankness is the only
[00:14:10] thing that will lead to this point of Syrian-Lebanese
[00:14:14] rapprochement. Ms. Alia, I'll turn to Professor Tarek Abu Zeinab, the security
[00:14:24] there was a security meeting between the Syrian
[00:14:29] side in Saudi Arabia,
[00:14:33] under its patronage. An agreement was signed
[00:14:36] to enhance direct security coordination between
[00:14:42] extent, in your estimation, has
[00:14:53] and viewers. Sir, today, frankly, according to sources close
[00:14:57] to the Lebanese government, the importance of today's
[00:14:59] visit is the culmination of all previous meetings held
[00:15:03] in Saudi Arabia and in Syria to strengthen the state's
[00:15:07] ability to deal with Syria. However, this visit
[00:15:10] will announce positive results regarding
[00:15:13] previous and current discussions and a final
[00:15:17] and conclusive announcement of all new agreements that will
[00:15:20] come into effect between the two countries. Of course, the most prominent
[00:15:23] files discussed, and
[00:15:26] on which results have been reached and will be announced today, God
[00:15:29] willing, are the issue of Syrian refugees and return
[00:15:32] mechanisms, addressing the conditions of Syrian residents in Lebanon,
[00:15:36] border control, and regulating entry and exit movement, and confronting
[00:15:40] illegal and irregular entry into Syria and Lebanon, and also
[00:15:44] regulating Syrian labor and granting rights
[00:15:47] to Syrian workers in Lebanon. Of course, there are
[00:15:50] education issues, and Lebanon will recognize
[00:15:53] Syrian certificates and coordinate between
[00:15:56] the relevant institutions. This visit
[00:15:59] also includes meetings between Lebanese
[00:16:02] and Syrian ministers. But today, also
[00:16:06] to clarify to Ms. Alia regarding the absence
[00:16:09] of the Minister of Interior, because the Syrian
[00:16:12] Minister of Interior offered him an appointment
[00:16:16] quickly, so the Minister
[00:16:19] of Interior did not go. However, the Lebanese
[00:16:23] coordination with the Syrian Minister of Interior. Today,
[00:16:27] the announcement of positive results regarding all
[00:16:30] previous and current discussions will be crowned.
[00:16:33] Also, of course, Lebanon today benefits greatly
[00:16:37] from its close relationship
[00:16:40] these relations are based on parity, respect
[00:16:44] for sovereignty, and non-interference in Lebanese or Syrian internal
[00:16:47] affairs. This was stated by President Ahmed
[00:16:50] Al-Shar'a and also His Excellency President
[00:16:53] economically, there will
[00:16:58] the Syrian side for the export
[00:17:01] of Lebanese products through Syrian territories and
[00:17:05] for activating transit transportation,
[00:17:08] and of course, there will be transit
[00:17:11] stations in Syria for Lebanese transit,
[00:17:14] and there will be free zones for economic work.
[00:17:18] Of course, today, these positive results and visits,
[00:17:21] their importance, frankly, will reflect on the relationship
[00:17:25] between the two countries and the two peoples, and we will feel
[00:17:29] all these facilitations for the Syrian and Lebanese peoples. Of course,
[00:17:32] Lebanon today is in a very important stage in bilateral
[00:17:35] relations, and of course, we, the previous stage,
[00:17:39] the days of the criminal Baathist regime, this stage has ended,
[00:17:43] and of course, as for breaking the ice between the Syrian
[00:17:46] and Lebanese peoples, God willing, there is no ice,
[00:17:50] because the two peoples are, I mean,
[00:17:52] there is, frankly, after the Syrian
[00:17:56] war and the displacement of Syrian
[00:17:59] brothers to Lebanon, there is now kinship and family
[00:18:04] a mixture of family and social ties
[00:18:08] between the Syrian and Lebanese peoples. Therefore, today,
[00:18:11] I believe today the two peoples understand each other.
[00:18:15] The Lebanese and Syrian peoples were, I mean,
[00:18:18] eager for this regime to be
[00:18:21] overthrown,
[00:18:24] regime to collapse. But today, these important
[00:18:28] relations are being crowned, from state to state, and
[00:18:31] from two peoples who are, I mean,
[00:18:35] truly interconnected, with the new Syrian
[00:18:37] government and the vision of His Excellency President
[00:18:41] Ahmed Al-Shar'a. Today, we are talking about a new
[00:18:44] Syria and a new Lebanon.
[00:18:51] Syrian News correspondent. So, what are the details of the visit
[00:18:55] and the most prominent files that the Lebanese side will discuss
[00:18:58] in Syria?
[00:19:03] Yes, Fouad, this visit is of great
[00:19:07] importance, in fact, because it took place between two
[00:19:11] brotherly countries that are bound
[00:19:13] relations that must
[00:19:16] be strengthened and settled after the end
[00:19:20] of that previous regime that disrupted
[00:19:22] many balances between Syria and Lebanon. This
[00:19:26] visit was high-level
[00:19:29] with a Lebanese delegation headed
[00:19:33] by the Deputy Prime Minister or the Lebanese
[00:19:36] Prime Minister, Tarek Mitri, and the Ministers
[00:19:40] of Labor, Education,
[00:19:43] the Lebanese side. They were received at the People's
[00:19:46] Palace by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates,
[00:19:50] Asaad Al-Shaibani, and the ministers
[00:19:52] corresponding to the visiting delegation. We are talking here about
[00:19:56] the Minister of Higher Education, and the Minister of Education,
[00:19:59] and the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor.
[00:20:02] This reception and visit gain
[00:20:06] their importance from the files that will be discussed
[00:20:09] and debated during the meeting that Syrian
[00:20:14] Dr. Tarek Mitri. He talked
[00:20:17] about the file of Syrians and their return
[00:20:21] from Lebanon, the file of Syrians in Lebanon, who wants to return,
[00:20:25] and who wants to stay, in addition to the issue of labor
[00:20:28] and regulating labor for Syrians, also
[00:20:31] certificates, study certificates, and the equivalence of those
[00:20:35] certificates for those who obtained study certificates
[00:20:38] during this period. So, many
[00:20:42] common files were discussed in this meeting. There
[00:20:45] were side meetings, side discussions
[00:20:48] between the ministers of the two
[00:20:51] countries. The concerned
[00:20:54] those files and debated them. It is worth
[00:20:57] mentioning, Fouad, also that
[00:21:00] there was a technical delegation from the Lebanese
[00:21:04] Ministry of Interior that attended
[00:21:06] the meeting. We can say that it is an important
[00:21:10] meeting, an important visit to conclude all
[00:21:13] outstanding files between
[00:21:16] the two countries. And here, let's say, if we look
[00:21:19] at the percentage, the percentage of outstanding files is
[00:21:22] old files from the time of the defunct
[00:21:26] regime. He probably left a file, we are talking
[00:21:29] about the file of Syrian migrants
[00:21:33] and refugees who went to Lebanon. This was also
[00:21:36] due to the defunct regime, but it is a file that is being
[00:21:39] discussed and debated now to resolve all
[00:21:43] matters related to it and to
[00:21:46] reach a final agreement, we can say,
[00:21:53] Noras Al-Arifi, Syrian News correspondent, for reporting
[00:22:04] very important milestones during the past period at the economic
[00:22:07] level between the Syrian and Lebanese sides, most notably the Lebanese-Syrian
[00:22:11] Investment Forum and also the Lebanese-Syrian Business
[00:22:15] Council. Both spoke about developing
[00:22:18] and improving investment opportunities between the two countries
[00:22:21] that are both emerging from a long war,
[00:22:24] and also the period of the defunct regime, and also
[00:22:27] the period of Syrian tutelage over Lebanon.
[00:22:31] about integration, what are the most prominent challenges
[00:22:35] and difficulties that both sides face,
[00:22:38] especially the Syrian side? I believe that the most prominent
[00:22:42] challenges facing Syria and Lebanon today are the issue
[00:22:45] of border crossings. There are six legal border crossings
[00:22:49] between Syria and Lebanon. Some of them have not yet opened
[00:22:52] due to issues related to the digitalization of customs in these crossings
[00:22:55] or the rehabilitation of these crossings, and the evidence of
[00:22:59] the pressure on the Masnaa crossing primarily. Therefore, the issue of border
[00:23:03] crossings is paramount. The second issue is the unification
[00:23:06] of customs between the two countries. The brotherly
[00:23:09] Lebanese side says that some customs
[00:23:12] fees in Syria are high, and this
[00:23:16] concerns the Syrian side given that the customs
[00:23:20] law and its amendments in Decree 80 certainly raised customs duties on some
[00:23:23] products with local alternatives and lowered
[00:23:27] them on materials used in the production process
[00:23:30] and some facilities such as renewable energy and health
[00:23:33] and others. Therefore, I believe there must be a solution
[00:23:37] and preferential treatment between the two countries
[00:23:40] regarding intra-trade. The third issue is that
[00:23:44] most countries in the region have adopted the method
[00:23:47] of transshipment between trucks. Today, Lebanese
[00:23:51] trucks arrive at customs yards and clearings
[00:23:54] and unload to Syrian happens with
[00:23:58] other countries, not just with Syria. So today, I believe
[00:24:01] one of these challenges today is raising the cost
[00:24:05] of some Lebanese products that are exported through
[00:24:08] Syrian territories, and this issue also, I believe, needs
[00:24:11] to be studied by the two countries to achieve the interests of both
[00:24:16] will benefit from transit fees on trucks that cross
[00:24:20] its territories to Jordan or Iraq. At the same time,
[00:24:24] Lebanon will export these goods. Then comes the financial
[00:24:27] and banking aspect. We all know, perhaps
[00:24:30] we will discuss it in another question, but we remain
[00:24:33] here on the topic of challenges. But when
[00:24:36] we talk about the economic relationship between Syria
[00:24:39] and Lebanon, what can Lebanon gain
[00:24:43] from Syria, and what can Syria gain from
[00:24:46] Lebanon, especially since both parties
[00:24:54] I believe that the main goal for the Lebanese
[00:24:58] side as an economic necessity for Syria is the issue
[00:25:01] of land transport primarily, in addition to the opportunities
[00:25:05] for investment that will open up for Lebanese investors
[00:25:08] in the reconstruction sectors in Syria, which are many,
[00:25:11] unfortunately. So, I believe this is a very great
[00:25:15] benefit. The issue of Syrian refugees and displacement
[00:25:18] is, I believe, causing a lot of discussions and
[00:25:29] but why does the Lebanese side benefit from Syrian
[00:25:33] refugees in terms of labor? You know that Syrian
[00:25:36] labor in Lebanon has made a great achievement
[00:25:39] in reconstruction in Lebanon and the return to life in Lebanon
[00:25:43] during the past decades was primarily due to this Syrian
[00:25:46] labor that worked in Lebanon, especially skilled
[00:25:50] labor. And to confirm your words, especially
[00:25:56] The Lebanese side speaks clearly about this issue, that the
[00:25:59] labor force that voluntarily returns to Syria may be
[00:26:03] missing in these sectors. Therefore, resolving this issue
[00:26:06] between the two sides, I believe, will be a balanced
[00:26:10] solution so that the labor that brotherly Lebanon needs
[00:26:13] remains, and it needs these Syrians who are there.
[00:26:16] And I believe that the return of what it considers surplus.
[00:26:20] Lebanese consumption today, frankly, Lebanese consumption is high.
[00:26:24] The Lebanese debt, even if its indicators were 130%
[00:26:27] of GDP in 2014, there is pressure on the Lebanese
[00:26:30] budget and on the Lebanese
[00:26:32] economic reality. So, I believe that the Lebanese budget regarding
[00:26:36] Syrian refuge and displacement will be primarily from the perspective
[00:26:40] of labor because it is important. And the proof today, if we can
[00:26:43] see the composition of the delegation,
[00:26:54] aspect. I will go
[00:26:58] side, Ms. Alia. To what extent can
[00:27:01] this delegation's visit, which is naturally
[00:27:04] an important and notable visit including
[00:27:08] ministers, reflect on improving
[00:27:11] and deepening the political relationship between Syria
[00:27:15] and Lebanon? I know that the reason
[00:27:18] was a specific health circumstance
[00:27:21] or an urgent meeting for His Excellency Minister Anas
[00:27:24] Khattab. I think the relationship must
[00:27:30] every time we build on meetings and resolved
[00:27:33] files. I insist on calling them Syrian refugees
[00:27:37] in Lebanon because I heard the words displaced and migrants.
[00:27:40] They are Syrian refugees in Lebanon. About
[00:27:44] 70,000 of them have returned. The registered number is approximately
[00:27:48] 1.2 million, meaning less than half
[00:27:50] the number remains. The discussion is about the voluntary
[00:27:54] return of families because Lebanon also
[00:27:57] does not want to lose its workforce. This issue
[00:28:00] is being discussed directly today and was discussed
[00:28:03] in previous meetings between the two
[00:28:06] sides. Now, in politics, in politics,
[00:28:09] also so that we don't
[00:28:12] the relationship still needs a lot of work.
[00:28:15] The expectations are high. Yes,
[00:28:18] sorry, the expectations are high. We are in
[00:28:21] Lebanese parties very happy with the
[00:28:25] positive relationship with Syria. There are other
[00:28:27] parties
[00:28:30] the relationship with Syria, and I'm talking about official parties, not
[00:28:34] just political parties. Of course, we know Hezbollah's
[00:28:37] absolute loyalty to Iran. Even if meetings occurred or
[00:28:43] the situation of the
[00:28:47] entire region today is on the brink, as they say. If
[00:28:51] war is declared again on Iran, Hezbollah
[00:28:54] will not stand by idly. It might not fight a battle in Lebanon
[00:28:57] in support, but we are seeing and hearing
[00:29:01] part of the sabotage attempts that
[00:29:04] Hezbollah is carrying out. But I am sure and informed
[00:29:08] that what Hezbollah is doing in Syria is
[00:29:12] much more than what is announced. So the relationship needs to be
[00:29:15] cumulative. Those
[00:29:19] who are wary
[00:29:21] of the relationship with Syria, let me tell you as it
[00:29:24] is: for sectarian reasons, some are
[00:29:27] wary of the relationship with Syria, that
[00:29:31] we have become in a completely Sunni
[00:29:33] environment, and President Al-Shar's background is an
[00:29:39] this is affecting it. Perhaps no one
[00:29:42] will speak out, because you know that in politics, a politician cannot say everything
[00:29:46] or an official cannot say everything, but there are
[00:29:49] negative signals sent from Lebanon to Syria, whether
[00:29:53] in closed meetings or even through the media. This builds
[00:29:56] trust, and in my opinion,
[00:29:59] the issue of borders is not limited,
[00:30:02] but here, when we talk about political
[00:30:05] weight in Lebanon, we are talking about the premiership and also the
[00:30:09] presidency, and of course, the Parliament. But the real
[00:30:13] political weight is the premiership and its relations,
[00:30:16] and of course, President Joseph Aoun has
[00:30:19] distinguished relations with Syria. How can we one day
[00:30:23] translate these political relations into practical
[00:30:26] agreements that genuinely from the
[00:30:30] political side?
[00:30:32] Now, Dr. Nawaf Salam is certainly among those
[00:30:36] aspiring and working hard for the best
[00:30:39] relations. But how enthusiastic is His Excellency President Joseph
[00:30:43] Aoun about the relationship with Syria? I am reserved.
[00:30:47] Indeed, when His Excellency Minister Shibani was in Beirut
[00:30:50] and extended
[00:30:53] an official invitation to him to visit Damascus, his response was not
[00:30:57] immediate the next day through the media.