Lebanese-Syrian meeting on smuggling held

The issue of cross-border smuggling has been discussed at length today by the joint Lebanese-Syrian Sub-Commission meeting for the Bekaa and Rif Dimashq provinces. This is the first time that the Commission has met since the beginning of the Syrian uprising. The Commission discussed both the issue of smuggling, as well as the long-standing cross-border issues that impact Syrian and Lebanese farmers. “We are particularly investigating smuggling because of the current events in Syria”, a Syrian official said. The meeting was attended by the District Commissioner of Baalbek Omar Yassin, and member of the Commission Ahmed Al Hajj Hassan, in addition to Lebanese and Syrian officers and officials responsible for military bases in both countries. Brigadier General Abdel Razaq Al Mutlaq spoke on behalf of the Syrian delegation. “An investigation is currently underway into cross-border smuggling”, he said. He said that many people had taken advantage of the situation in Syria to smuggle people from countries including Sudan and Egypt, into Syria without a Visa. A Lebanese official added that “clashes have occurred between farmers on both sides of the border, so we are working on resolving the issue.” “We’ve investigated farmers’ land claims, and will follow the necessary procedures to resolve the issue”, Yassin said. Hassan added: “As for the smuggling issue, the commission incorporates military and security forces that are experts on smuggling. Smuggling is bad for our countries and it is not just people that are smuggled, but also weapons and goods. Smuggling is completely forbidden and will prevent reconciliation.” The Commission entered a statement saying that the Lebanese side has issued a document which makes it easier for farmers to enter and leave their land in Syria. The statement also said that the Syrian side had complained that trees had been cut down in the Al Jabbeh and Ras Maret Yebrod areas in Lebanon. It also said that the Commission has the name of a number of Lebanese citizens from Al Tafeel city that are suspected of smuggling weapons to Syria.