Mohammed Taha al-Ahmad, Director of the Arab Affairs Department at Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, announced an agreement with the Lebanese government to hand over several Syrian prisoners, excluding those implicated in crimes that caused civilian deaths. The announcement came during an official visit to Beirut by a high-level Syrian delegation, the first of its kind in years.
Al-Ahmad told the state-run Syrian News Channel that the Lebanese side showed significant responsiveness to Damascus’ demands regarding detainees. He expressed hope the step would help “turn the page of the past,” adding that many Syrians in Lebanese prisons face “fabricated or suspicion-based charges.”
He confirmed that Syria’s transitional president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, gives special attention to the detainees’ file. The matter was raised in three consecutive official meetings, and direct coordination has begun with Lebanese authorities to develop an implementation mechanism in the coming period.
These understandings followed an official visit headed by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani, accompanied by Justice Minister Mazhar al-Weis, General Intelligence Chief Hussein al-Salama, and Director of Arab Affairs Mohammed Taha al-Ahmad.
Justice Minister al-Weis said the visit marks “a new beginning in relations between the two neighboring countries,” describing the case of Syrian detainees as a top priority and noting expected follow-up meetings to end “this humanitarian tragedy.”
He added that talks also covered a program for the return of Syrian refugees, stressing that return must be “safe and sustainable” by ensuring infrastructure and basic services in the areas they left. He said, “The Lebanese side supports reconstruction efforts to create conditions conducive to their return.”
Al-Ahmad stated that most Syrian refugees “were displaced from areas that opposed the former regime,” calling for services to be focused in those areas to encourage return.
He also announced work to form a joint Syrian–Lebanese committee to demarcate and secure the shared border, noting that “a large number of smuggling networks” had been dismantled in recent months.
The delegation met Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to discuss the detainee file and broader bilateral relations.
Al-Shibani: Progress on the Roumieh Prison file
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani said he discussed multiple issues with the Lebanese president, foreign minister Youssef Rajji, and Prime Minister Salam, noting these matters require in-depth dialogue and technical committees.
He said these issues are of mutual concern, foremost among them “accelerating the case of Syrian detainees in Roumieh Prison.” He added, “We achieved very significant progress on this file today, and in the coming period, there will be tangible results.”
Al-Shibani described the visit as “historic and very important for both sides.”
Syrian momentum on the “detainee” file
The cases of Syrian detainees in Lebanon and Lebanese missing in Syria remain at the top of the joint agenda. The first round began with a visit by a Syrian Foreign Ministry delegation to Beirut on 1 September, followed by a Lebanese governmental delegation to Damascus to continue the details.
The delegations discussed several unresolved issues between Damascus and Beirut, chiefly the file of Syrian detainees in Lebanese prisons and border demarcation, and met with Lebanese Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri.
According to the Associated Press, both sides agreed to form two committees: one to determine the fate of around 2,000 Syrian prisoners held in Lebanese prisons, and another to locate Lebanese citizens missing in Syria for years, as well as to finalize arrangements on the shared border.
The post Syrian–Lebanese agreement to hand over Syrian prisoners appeared first on Enab Baladi.
from Enab Baladi https://ift.tt/jxrDtF0
via IFTTT