July 18, 2010 - Naharnet - Muallem: STL a Lebanese Matter, Border Demarcation Not Facing Difficulties

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem voiced his hopes Sunday that visits between Lebanese and Syrian officials would increase in the future, adding that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's trip to Lebanon "will take place at the appropriate time".

He denied on the sidelines of the meeting between the Lebanese and Syrian delegations as part of Prime Minister Saad Hariri's visit to Syria that there are difficulties in reaching an agreement between the two states over matters of defense and foreign affairs.

He said that he and his Lebanese counterpart Ali al-Shami constantly coordinate matters, adding that Lebanese Minister Elias Murr's absence from the trip has thwarted them from discussing defense issues.

Addressing the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, Muallem stressed: "We seek the whole truth and if it targets one political party in Lebanon or Syria or anywhere, then that means that it has been politicized."

"If any Syrian citizen was proven to be involved in the assassination, then he will be tried in Syria on charges of grand treason," the foreign minister added.

Furthermore, Muallem denied that the demarcation of the Lebanese-Syrian border is facing difficulties, saying that committees have been formed in Lebanon and Syria over this matter.