Syrian delegation to visit Lebanon for talks on prisoners, demarcation

A Syrian delegation will visit Lebanon this week to prepare for a high-level meeting between Lebanese and Syrian officials, media reports said.

Pro-Hezbollah al-Akhbar newspaper reported Monday that a committee from the Syrian ministries of foreign affairs, interior, and justice, will visit Beirut next Thursday to arrange for the official meeting.

The delegation, according to the daily, will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Mitri, in the presence of Lebanese officials from the ministries of interior and justice.

The step comes after Saudi efforts to mediate between the two countries, al-Akhbar said, adding that the delegation will discuss the land and sea demarcation between the two neighbors, including the disputed Shebaa Farms. The Lebanese and the Syrian officials will also discuss the file of Syrian prisoners in Lebanon and economic cooperation between the two countries.

Salam would send to Parliament a draft law that would grant amnesty to many Syrian prisoners in Lebanon, amid an opposition from the Kataeb Party and the Free Patriotic Movement, the report said.

Al-Jadeed TV channel said a Lebanese-Syrian security meeting was previously held under Saudi mediation and was attended by Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khaled bin Salman and Saudi envoy to Lebanon Prince Yazid bin Farhan. The local media outlet added that Saudi Arabia will organize another security meeting between Lebanon and Syria in the coming days.

During the meeting, Lebanon asked for guarantees to keep terrorist organizations away from its borders and Syria vowed to cooperate.