BEIRUT, Oct 10 (KUNA) -- Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Friday said Lebanon is looking forward to boost relations with neighboring Syria based on mutual respect and non-intervention in each country's internal affairs.
The Lebanese Presidency said in a statement that Aoun made the statement during a reception of a Syrian delegation including Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shibani and Justice Minister Mazhar Al-Wais.
Aoun added that a fresh decision by Syria to suspend the joint higher coordination council warrants "activating the diplomatic relations." The Lebanese-Syrian Higher Council was established in 1991 under a cooperation agreement signed by then-Lebanese President Elias Hrawi and the late Syrian president Hafez al-Assad. The council was designed to serve as a high-level coordination body between the two countries.
Elaborating, president Aoun told his guests that the situation along the joint borders "became better," indicating that other files of common interest need to be resolved, such as the borders' demarcation and the prisoners' issues.
Lebanon holds Syrians on various charges and Beirut calls for determining destiny of scores of Lebanese who were detained during era of the late Syrian president and his son, Bashar. Security measures have been boosted along the borders in the face of trafficking of drugs and arms and illegal entries. (end) ayb.rk