Syrian FM in Lebanon says 'open to meet Hezbollah' if needed

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani met Thursday with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam in Beirut.

Shaibani said his discussions with Berri focused on ways to develop bilateral relations between Lebanon and Syria, adding that the Hezbollah file was not raised during the meeting.

Responding to a question regarding the possibility of a meeting with Hezbollah, Al-Shaibani said "if the mutual interest requires a meeting with Hezbollah, we are open to it."

Shibani later met with Salam, former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat and Kataeb leader Sami Gemayel.

After his meeting with Shibani, Jumblat said "the defunct (Syrian) regime is gone, and we must open a new chapter of political and strategic relations."