Beirut: Justice Minister Adel Nassar referred to "the positive atmosphere that accompanied the Syrian Foreign Minister's visit to official headquarters, particularly his participation in the meetings at Baabda Palace and the Grand Serail, along with Syrian Justice Minister and the accompanying official delegation."
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, Nassar's words were accompanied by statements made by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Sheibani regarding "progress in the Syrian-Lebanese talks."
In this context, and as a result of the positive atmosphere, Nassar announced that a meeting will take place next week with his Syrian counterpart "to effectively complete negotiations and expedite all the issues previously discussed between the Syrian and Lebanese delegations."
Accordingly, follow-up on all pending issues is expected to intensify starting next week.
Nassar indicated that both sides emphasized "the necessity of establishing the best relations between Lebanon and Syria, most importantly respect for the sovereignty of the two states."
He added that the meetings he participated in, both in Baabda and at the Government Serail, addressed the issue of Syrian detainees and prisoners. He pointed to Lebanon's insistence on handing over to the Lebanese judiciary all available information related to assassinations committed during the era of the former regime, security crimes and activities, and the file of those forcibly disappeared.