Ghosn winds up visit to Syria

National Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn winded up his official visit to Damascus by meeting with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad where they reviewed the general situation in Lebanon and the region, in addition to means of bolstering bilateral relations in the various fields. Ghosn's visit to Damascus "comes within the framework of boosting brotherly relations between the two countries and both peoples, earnestly reflected in Brotherhood, Cooperation and Coordination Treaty between the two countries", Ghosn stressed in a statement issued by his Media Bureau. "These relations remain most concrete and solid than all suspicious attempts seeking to strike them", Ghosn said. Ghosn expressed confidence that Syrian people's will guarantees thwarting all conspiracies that target Syria's national unity, since as he said, cohesiveness between people and their command has been and shall always remain the strong deterrent in the face of attempts tampering with Syria's stability and its resistance policy. "This cohesiveness shall definitely thwart any foreign interference in Syrian affairs", Ghosn stressed, criticizing international sanctions against Syria. He considered that these sanctions shall not alter anything in Damascus' policy, constants, and its Arab and patriotic options. Ghosn visited Damascus on top of a senior military delegation upon an official invitation by his Syrian Counterpart Daoud Rajha. Upon arrival in Syria, Ghosn and Rajha held a closed meeting at Syrian Defense Ministry headquarters, followed by a wider meeting attended by Syrian and Lebanese military delegations. Talks reportedly touched on the general situation in the region and in Lebanon and Syria in particular. Talks also dwelt on means of bolstering relations between the armies of both countries and activating cooperation in the aim of protecting Syria and Lebanon's security and stability through controlling joint borders and implementing mechanisms of banning smuggling, in accordance with already signed agreements. Ghosn hailed the reform steps which have been undertaken in Syria specially that they embody the aspirations of the Syrian people. He stressed "Lebanon's security is that of Syria's", renewing rejection of foreign meddling into Syrian affairs. He noted that tampering with stability and security constitutes a rejected adventure from any side. Ghosn also stressed before his Syrian Counterpart that Lebanon shall proceed in protecting joint borders and crossing points' security and banning smuggling of arms and persons. Minister Rajha, for his part, underlined "the depth and cohesiveness of Lebanese-Syrian relations", renewing the importance of cooperation between both countries' armies notably with respect to joint borders. On the other hand, Ghosn visited Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch where he had audience with Patriarch Agnathius IV Hazim. Talks touched on the general situation and relevant Orthodox sect affairs.