The important and sensitive files that Mikati carried during his visit to Damascus | policy

Beirut- With a visit that is the first of its kind in 15 years, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati arrived today, Saturday, in the Syrian capital, Damascus, and met with the leader of the new Syrian administration, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, at the People’s Palace. This visit is of great importance on the political and security levels, as it represents the beginning of an era. New relations between Lebanon and Syria in light of the radical changes witnessed in the region.

During his visit, Mikati carried a precise file focusing on security and bilateral reforms, and was accompanied by an official delegation that included the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Abdullah Bu Habib, the Acting Director General of Public Security, Major General Elias Al-Bisari, the Director of Intelligence in the Army, Brigadier General Tony Kahwaji, and the Deputy Director General of State Security, Brigadier General Hassan Shuqair.

During the joint press conference held after the meeting, Al-Sharaa said that “it is necessary to have long-term strategic relations with Lebanon, based on correct and sound foundations,” stressing that Syria will remain committed to standing at the same distance from all Lebanese parties, and added, “There are many Among the issues being discussed with Lebanon, the most prominent of which is border control.”

For his part, Mikati stressed that the discussions focused on strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries, highlighting the importance of dialogue and friendly relations that bring together the Lebanese and Syrian peoples, and pointed out that “reconsidering the file of Syrian refugees in Lebanon has become an urgent matter, given the pressures that this file poses on Lebanon,” Mikati expressed his satisfaction with Sharia’s understanding of this issue.

New stage

University Professor Ali Murad notes that Mikati’s visit came at a sensitive time for the Lebanese scene, as it coincided with the election of the new President of the Republic, Joseph Aoun, which gave impetus to the wheel of reconstructing power in Lebanon after more than two years of vacuum, and before the appointment of the Prime Minister, and this reflects the beginning of A kind of legitimacy with the presence of a President of the Republic, in addition to it being a visit to a designated president.

Speaking to Al Jazeera Net, Murad explains that the visit bears the character of attempts to market Mikati internationally and regionally in the post-appointment phase, with the aim of gaining the support of representatives in next Monday’s session.

He added, “It is important to know that Mikati was considered one of the figures close to the Syrian regime and its allies in Lebanon – the Amal Movement and Hezbollah – so the visit is considered a step towards strengthening relations between a Lebanese political component that was not opposed to the former Syrian regime, which reflects the existence of a stable relationship between the two countries.” “Regardless of who holds power in each of them.”

On the other hand, Murad considered that the visit that took place by plane carried another indication of the depth of the relationship between Lebanon and Syria, as this visit consolidates the official relationship between the two countries.

As for the expected results, it indicates that there are many outstanding issues between Lebanon and Syria, the most prominent of which is strengthening mutual recognition of the sovereignty and independence of both countries, and non-interference in their internal affairs. This was evident in the President of the Lebanese Republic’s emphasis in his swearing-in speech on the importance of equal relations and non-interference in Internal affairs of states.

The university professor also points out that there are several other files, such as the issue of detainees, border control, and reconsidering the cooperation agreements between the two countries, in addition to the refugee file and ensuring their return to their country, and the issue of demarcating land and sea borders.

The issue of the Shebaa Farms also remains a problematic issue, as the official Lebanese position considers it to be Lebanese territory, despite some unconfirmed statements about the existence of implicit Lebanese recognition of Syrian sovereignty over this region.

He concludes by saying that these files indicate “a legacy of historical ambiguities and mutual concerns between the two countries at the popular and institutional levels, a responsibility mainly borne by the former Syrian regime.”

He added, “However, this visit represents a step towards opening a new page in relations between the two countries, as the presence of security officials accompanying the Prime Minister reflects the security priority that the relationship enjoys at this stage.”

Diplomatic visit

For his part, Salah Salam, editor-in-chief of Al-Liwaa newspaper, links President Mikati’s visit to Damascus today with the content of President Joseph Aoun’s oath of office, in which he stressed the importance of the friendly relationship with Syria and the necessity of addressing the outstanding files between the two countries. Among the most prominent of these files, according to Salam:

• Knowing the fate of Lebanese detainees in Syrian prisons.
• The return of displaced Syrians to their homeland.
• Demarcating the land borders to the east and the sea borders to the north between Lebanon and Syria, especially in light of the growing interest in the gas and oil file in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, which extends from Mersin in Turkey to Gaza in the south.

Speaking to Al Jazeera Net, Salam points out that this visit is of special importance, as it is the first official contact between Beirut and Damascus, “and not only during the era of the new Lebanese regime, but rather since the long years of estrangement between the two governments that prevailed during the rule of former President Bashar al-Assad.” “.

Salam adds that the first goal of this visit “is not to review the treaty of cooperation and coordination between Lebanon and Syria, but rather to cancel it, since it was considered unfair to Lebanon, as the treaty was drawn up in light of the previous Syrian hegemony over Lebanon.” He added, “It is expected that pending files will be opened on In light of this visit, even if the final results will not be achieved during one meeting or in a short period.”

But the most important thing – according to Salam – is to put these complex files on the discussion table between the two countries, “especially since the Lebanese-Syrian relations must be complementary, in line with the deep ties and common interests that bring the two peoples together.”

Salam also refers to the Shebaa Farms file, which is extremely strategic and security important for Lebanon, “and requires affirming Lebanese sovereignty over the farms to guarantee the legal and constitutional right to demand Israel’s withdrawal from them.”

Salam stated that Israel considers these lands to be Syrian, as they were occupied during the June 1967 war, and therefore they are subject to Resolution 242 and not to Resolution 425, or subsequent decisions related to the Israeli occupation of Lebanese lands.

Salam concludes that Mikati’s visit is considered “a positive step that reflects Lebanon’s keenness to enhance the security and stability of the new regime in Damascus, and to build balanced relations between the two countries. It also aims to support fruitful cooperation at the official level in a way that serves the interests of the Lebanese and Syrian peoples.”