Murr”s Damascus Visit Pushed Border Issue Forward
Defense Minister Elias Murr”s visit to Damascus has pushed the border issue between Lebanon and Syria forward, news reports said Thursday.
Murr on Wednesday met with Syrian President Bashar Assad and other top officials in his first visit to Damascus in more than three years.
He also met with Syrian Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Hassan Ali Turkmani who welcomed him at Damascus airport.
The daily An Nahar quoted sources close to Murr as saying the talks focused on military issues.
One source described the military aspect of the visit as "very successful."
He said the two sides tackled the issue of border control "which gave hope that the implementation is likely to take place very soon."
The sources said the two sides also discussed ways to conduct patrols along the 365-long Lebanese-Syrian border that includes 82 crossings via which smuggling is taking place.