Amid the ongoing preparations for the third round, and following his visit to Damascus with a ministerial delegation the day before yesterday, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam appeared highly measured in making predictions or setting expectations regarding the upcoming negotiations in Washington.

Nawaf Salam meeting Ahmad al-Sharaa. (SANA)

In the echoes of his visit to Damascus and his meeting with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, PM Salam appeared very pleased with the results of the visit, confirming to Annahar that: “We will remain in constant communication to face the shared challenges in the region. We have succeeded in giving a new boost to the required cooperation between Lebanon and Syria for mutual interest within a sound state-to-state relationship.”

He pointed out that: “We have completed the Supreme Council, which was suspended, but we need a permanent cooperation formula, and we are about to form a joint high committee similar to the existing high committees between Lebanon and Arab states, especially Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan. I will present the matter to the cabinet this week, and one of the committee’s tasks will be to review bilateral agreements and enhance cooperation by taking practical steps, starting with establishing a joint Lebanese-Syrian Business Council to convene next month in Damascus. We are in the process of forming this council. We also held a ministerial meeting today, and each minister will follow up on the bilateral points discussed in Damascus, particularly in energy, transportation, borders, customs, laboratory tests, and others.”