The News from Syria :


Q&A : Michel Khoury - Lebanese Ambassador to Syria

By Mohammad Atef Fares

How has your experience in Syria been to date?

From the moment the embassy was opened until my arrival in Damascus and the submission of my credentials to His Excellency President Bashar al-Assad and the subsequent meetings with Syrian officials, my experience has been excellent. It has strengthened my belief in the brotherly nature of Syrian-Lebanese relations. It is well known that the relationship between the two countries is historical, deep-rooted and based on family relations. They, therefore, predate the establishment of diplomatic relations.

However, through the establishment of diplomatic relations, [Lebanese] President Michel Sleiman and [Syrian] President Bashar al-Assad aim to organise and institutionalise the ties between the two countries and develop them according to the modalities suitable to the two people.

To go back to the question, in Syria I feel that I am among my people and brothers. Since my arrival I have felt that the Syrian authorities have granted the Lebanese embassy all the necessary support to allow it to fulfil its mission.

What are the key goals of your mission here in Syria?

Generally, embassies work to represent their government in the host country and work to develop relations between the two countries. They also address consular matters of their nationals residing in the host country. In the case of the Lebanese Embassy in Damascus and the Syrian Embassy in Beirut, there are additional specific targets, which the two presidents agreed upon during their summit last summer, and which constitute a framework to put the relations on the track serving the interests of citizens in both countries.

Regarding Syrian-Lebanese economic ties, can you update our readers on trade figures and the efforts you are undertaking to boost economic cooperation?

First of all, it should be pointed out that one of our basic targets is to develop the economic ties, trade exchange and mutual investment between the two countries, so that the economic ties become commensurate with the political, historical and social ties. It is worth mentioning that Presidents Sleiman and Assad addressed this topic in their joint statement.

Syria has a huge economic potential, excellent industrial and technical experience and a large consumer market. Lebanon is also economically attractive on several levels and has built up experience in many sectors. The economic potential of the two countries should therefore be enhanced through mutual cooperation. There is a variety of far-reaching economic agreements between the two countries, which we should expand and develop in order to allow the respective private sectors to play a greater role in trade exchange. The current trade figures may not be commensurate with what we aspire to, but I hope that we can work to increase trade exchange between the two countries in the coming period.

Will there be changes to the current travel arrangements which allow citizens of both countries to enter each other’s country by simply showing their identification cards?

We consider it our mission to make it easy for citizens on both sides to travel to the other country. Consequently, there is no intention whatsoever to abolish the current regulation which allows nationals from both sides to cross to the other country simply with an identity card. We are looking to further facilitate travel in an effort to clearly show citizens the strength of the ties connecting the two countries.

Lebanon recently held its parliamentary elections. Does the result effect Syrian-Lebanese relations?

All the Lebanese parties and political factions which took part in the recent elections have emphasised their desire and commitment to build strong relations with Syria. This was also reiterated after the elections. In Lebanon, there are national texts which address the nature of Syrian-Lebanese relationship, particularly the 1989 Taif Agreement, which dedicates a special paragraph to these relations. All the Lebanese are committed to this, and this commitment was reiterated in the national dialogue which took place in 2006 and which will be pursued under the chairmanship of President Michel Sleiman.

I am convinced that the political and electoral occasions in Lebanon will not affect the desire of all Lebanese citizens to develop fraternal ties with Syria which will allow for close cooperation in order to achieve the aspirations of both people.

What is the future of the Syrian Lebanese Higher Council? Is it still necessary given there are now full diplomatic relations between the two countries?

The Syrian-Lebanese Higher Council was established under the 1989 Treaty of Fraternity, Cooperation and Coordination between the two countries. Our basic aim is to serve Lebanese-Syrian relations through institutions and to fulfill the aspirations of the two people. In this context, the leaders of the two countries will evaluate the proper tools to serve this common aim adequately.

Regarding efforts to define the Syrian-Lebanese border; have there been talks on this point since your arrival?

Again we go back to the joint statement which President Sleiman and President Assad issued last year, which states that the commission charged with this issue will resume its work. Therefore, we expect that this topic will receive the necessary attention in the coming period.


source : Syria Today : July 2009