Hariri to visit Damascus to 'ink new agreements'

Prime Minister Saad Hariri is scheduled to pay a two-day visit to Damascus on April 13 and 14, media reports said over the weekend.

Education Minister Hassan Mneimneh told An-Nahar newspaper in comments published on Sunday that the upcoming visit would work as “an effective start for reforming relations between the two states and rebuilding them on strong foundations.”

He stressed that the aim of Hariri’s visit to Damascus at the head of a delegation of ministers was “not meant to delete existing bilateral agreements but inking new ones that meet the interests of both states.”

Mneimneh added that the upcoming visit had been discussed between Hariri and Assad when the former visited Syria last December.

“Both sides touched on all issues including demarcating borders which lead to establishing relations that will be a sample for other Arab relations … what is important is to benefit from past experiences and study the reasons behind the flaws in relations between the two countries,” Mneimneh said.

He added that the delegation accompanying Hariri on his visit to Damascus would include a number of ministers, and that the purpose of the visit will be discussed in the Cabinet session next week although the item does not originally figure on the Cabinet’s agenda.

Hariri, who has for a long time accused Syria of being involved in rhe killing of his father former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri on February 14 2005, visited the Syrian capital in December during for talks with the Syrian president.

The visit was paid shortly after Saad Hariri became the head of a national unity government in Lebanon.