Damascus: Lebanese Premier Nawaf Salam said he made "significant progress" on shared issues as he met Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Damascus on Saturday and discussed bilateral, regional, and international developments. Salam arrived in Damascus on a day-long visit, his second since taking office last year, following his first visit on April 14, 2025.
According to Anadolu Agency, the SANA news agency reported that Sharaa received Salam at the People's Palace in Damascus with ministerial delegations from both countries present. Discussions focused on strengthening bilateral ties, developing economic and trade cooperation to serve common interests, and enhancing security coordination to support stability and confront challenges.
Salam's office stated that he led a delegation to Syria, including Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri, Energy and Water Minister Joseph Saddi, Economy and Trade Minister Amer Bisat, Public Works and Transport Minister Fayez Rasamny, and adviser Ambassador Claude Hajjal. In a press conference at Damascus airport before departing Syria, Salam emphasized the progress made in addressing shared issues, particularly in the fields of economy, energy, transportation, and security, with tangible results expected soon.
The discussions also addressed the challenges faced by both Lebanon and Syria, with plans to continue consultations at the political level and strengthen cooperation through joint committees and intensified ministerial-level communication. Salam highlighted the necessity of continuing dialogue and cooperation to facilitate the safe return of Syrian refugees to their homes and regulate Syrian labor in Lebanon.
The meeting also followed up on agreements regarding the transfer of convicted prisoners to Syria and determining the fate of missing persons in both countries. In February, Lebanon and Syria signed an agreement to transfer approximately 300 Syrian convicts back to Syria, with the first batch received in March. Syrian detainees in Lebanese prisons are estimated to be around 2,500, roughly one-third of the total prisoner population in Lebanon.
Lebanese estimates suggest there are approximately 1.5 million Syrian refugees in Lebanon, with about 880,000 registered with the UNHCR. Beirut launched a voluntary repatriation program for Syrian refugees in June 2025. Sharaa previously stated in January that a majority of Syrian citizens living abroad could return within the next two years.
Salam's first official visit to Syria occurred in April 2025, following the establishment of a transitional government in Syria after the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024.