ARAB AFFAIRS - July 31 - Syria, Lebanon Reaffirm Ties.

In his first official trip abroad and just a day after his government is approved by Parliament, Lebanese PM Fuad Siniora holds difficult talks with Syrian Pres Bashar Assad and PM Mohammad Naji Ottri on repairing relations between the two countries. "The two sides reaffirmed anew their commitment to work to build Syrian-Lebanese relations based on mutual respect, away from anything that could affect the special relations between the two brotherly countries", the two countries said in a joint statement. "The brotherly countries are eager to deepen cooperation and interaction, exchange and solidarity through harmonious consultation and sincere and constructive cooperation within the framework of the sovereignty and independence of both", the statement added. Siniora raised the issue of easing Syria's tough new border controls, which have brought Lebanese overland exports to a near standstill in recent weeks. Siniora said at a joint news conference with Ottri that the two countries had resolved the issue of border delays that have inflicted heavy financial losses on Lebanese exporters deprived of their only open land route. "I will return to Lebanon satisfied about all the steps that should be made to fortify this relationship", said Siniora. Syria says the curbs are a security measure after customs officials found explosives on a truck bound for its territory. Syrian-Lebanese relations deteriorated sharply after Damascus withdrew its troops from Lebanon in April, ending 29 years of its military presence in the neighbouring Arab country. The move was the result of mounting pressure on Syria by the US, France, and the Lebanese opposition after the assassination of former Lebanese PM Rafik Hariri. Hariri was killed in a massive car bomb explosion in Beirut on Feb 14. Siniora arrived in Damascus by land and saw along the road to the crossing point with Syria thousands of Lebanese trucks stuck on the Lebanese side of the border, thanks to the heavy "security measures" imposed by the Syrian authorities during the past few weeks. He was officially welcomed by Ottri and other Syrian officials at the Sahara tourist complex, 20 km from Damascus. Ahead of Siniora's visit, the state-run Syrian media demanded that the new Lebanese government settle the issue of hundreds of Syrians who were reported missing in Lebanon since Hariri's assassination. The Syrian government had also demanded compensation from Beirut for some 300,000 Syrian workers who were either attacked or forced to flee the country. Some 37 Syrian workers have been reported killed in Lebanon since Feb 14. Prior to his meeting with Siniora, Ottri received the chairman of the Committee of the Syrians Missing in Lebanon, Faisal Kalthoum, who briefed him on the matter and conveyed the requests of the families of those missing in Lebanon.