Lebanon's Hariri concludes Damascus visit

May 18, 2010, 22:18 GMT

Beirut/Damascus - Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri concluded a visit Tuesday to Damascus during which he held talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad focused on improving bilateral cooperation.

The discussions also centred around 'the positive developments that these relations are witnessing in order to preserve the interests of the Syrian and Lebanese people,' a statement from Hariri's office said.

The two leaders also agreed on the need to coordinate their positions to tackle the challenges in the region, the statement said.

Hariri informed Assad about his planned visit to Turkey and Washington later this month.

This was Hariri's second visit to Syria, after a previous one in December 2009 ended nearly five years of animosity.

Relations between Hariri and Syria have been tense since 2005, when he accused Damascus of plotting the murder of his father Rafik Hariri. Damascus has consistently denied involvement.

The visit was designed to coordinate policies ahead of Hariri's trip to the United States on May 24, Syrian presidential adviser Bussaina Shaaban said. 'We look favourably on every visit by an Arab to Washington that explains the Arab stance,' she told a Syrian radio station.

Syria was Lebanon's powerbroker until 2005, when it came under pressure from the international community to end its 30-year military presence following the February 2005 assassination of Rafik Hariri. Syrian troops withdrew from Lebanon in April 2005.

On Monday, Hariri began a regional tour with a visit to Saudi Arabia, holding separate talks with Saudi King Abdullah and Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz.