Mitri leads five-minister delegation to Damascus Monday; Sharaa meeting expected

Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri leads a Lebanese ministerial delegation to Damascus on Monday, Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Liwaa and Lebanon24 reported. He is joined by Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar, Labour Minister Mohammad Haidar, Education Minister Rima Karami and Social Affairs Minister Haneen Sayed.

Mitri told Asharq Al-Awsat the visit would focus on the situation of Syrians in Lebanon, both those who entered illegally in recent months and those with legal residency, and would review measures Lebanon has taken so far. The agenda also covers movement through border crossings, Syrian pupils in Lebanese schools, the registration of Syrian births in Lebanon, and Syrian prisoners, including whether they can benefit from Lebanon's general amnesty law and the transfer of convicts to Syria.

Hajjar said he would discuss shared security matters, including the border and security coordination, with his Syrian counterpart. Mitri said President Ahmad al-Sharaa is likely to receive the delegation; Al Jadeed reported that a meeting with Sharaa would head the programme.

Lebanon24 said the visit is meant to prepare a possible trip by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to Damascus in late November, alongside a meeting of the Lebanese-Syrian Higher Council to revive bilateral agreements. Lebanese Lobby's view: regulating the Syrian presence and sealing the border against smuggling are state tasks that only state-to-state cooperation can deliver.