BEIRUT, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Defense Minister Elias Bou Saab emphasized on Saturday the need to increase cooperation between the Lebanese and Syrian armies to control the borders in the Bekaa Valley and stop smuggling.
"I cannot start any direct dialogues with Syrian authorities to increase cooperation, if the government does not make a decision in this regard," the National News Agency quoted Bou Saab as saying.
He added that Syrian and Lebanese armies are deployed on the borders in the Bekaa Valley to prevent smuggling but more efforts are needed in this area.
However, he said that the control on the northern borders with Syria is more advanced.
"We can assure you that trucks cannot pass through these borders," he said.
There are several illegal borders in Lebanon that the government is trying to control in a bid to stop smuggling of products and protect Lebanese merchants and producers.
