Following the “Ice-Breaking” visit, Lebanon and Syria to meet on prisoner file

Relations and channels between Lebanon and Syria’s new interim authorities have not been cut off to be reopened accordingly. Discussions between the two neighboring countries began earlier, with 3 meetings being held in Beirut since last September.

However, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani’s unprecedented visit to Lebanon signaled a new chapter in relations between Beirut and Damascus, as it helped “break the ice.” It is worth noting that Lebanese authorities were previously disappointed and critical of the fact that no high-profile Syrian authority visited their country, which explains the significance of last week’s diplomatic event.

Al-Shaibani’s last week visit to Beirut

Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani held talks with his Lebanese counterpart, Youssef Rajji, and met President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. During the Syrian FM’s visit, he emphasized that a “new chapter in relations was being opened with Lebanon” following the fall of the Assad regime. This chapter will be marked by a respect for Lebanon’s sovereignty and “the principle of non-interference in its internal affairs”, a break with Damascus’s former policy towards Beirut.

As a result, the Lebanese-Syrian Higher Council was suspended upon mutual agreement. Since its inception in 1991, the council symbolized Syria’s hegemony over Lebanon. Today, however, all forms of communication between the two countries will henceforth be conducted exclusively through official diplomatic channels.

Furthermore, various other contentious issues were discussed. These include the Lebanese-Syrian border demarcation, border security, the Syrian refugee crisis, as well as the Syrian prisoner file. To this extent, the two countries agreed to establish committees to address all contending issues, although Beirut still awaits the appointment of a new Syrian ambassador to proceed and follow up on all related matters.

The upcoming prisoner file discussions

According to familiar sources, the issue of Syrian prisoners in Lebanon “was raised during the meetings,” but claimed that the Syrian side has not yet proposed specific names. From here, the two sides decided to hold bilateral discussions in the upcoming week to address the matter at hand.

Regarding Syria’s position, the prisoners held in Lebanese jails are politically and unjustly convicted. They claim that most of the arrests have been made during Hezbollah and the former Syrian regime’s control, which significantly impacted and influenced the courts’ decisions and sentences. Therefore, Syria demands the release and repatriation of over 2,000 Syrians in order to achieve healthy and friendly relations with Beirut.

As for Lebanon’s position, its authorities have stressed that they will not show no leniency concerning prisoners that are convicted of murder or involved in attacks against the Lebanese Armed Forces. Their firm stance stems from the sensitivity of the issue as well as their respect and preservation of the “clear judicial path.”

During last week’s visit, the Director of the Department of Arab Affairs at the Syrian Foreign Ministry, Mohammad al-Ahmad, said in a statement to a familiar source on Friday evening that

We have agreed with Lebanon on the release of Syrian detainees who are not convicted of murder. We have seen a good response from the Lebanese side and hope to turn the page on the past.

Hence, this week’s expected discussions would likely advance the prisoner file issue towards a possible mutually agreed understanding, which achieves justice and accountability simultaneously.