BEIRUT, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Minister of State for Foreign Trade Hassan Mourad emphasized on Tuesday the importance of establishing good relations with Syria, local media reported.
"There is no other gateway by land for Lebanon to the rest of the Arab world and our country should boost ties with Syria to increase the export of Lebanese products via the neighboring country," Mourad was quoted as saying by Elnashra, an online independent newspaper.
Some Lebanese officials have on many occasions called for a direct dialogue with Syria to help in solving various challenges facing their country including the return of Syrian refugees to their homeland and the export of local products through the neighboring country.
However, Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced last year his unwillingness to initiate a direct dialogue with the Syrian government or visit Syria to meet with President Bashar al-Assad "under any circumstances."
