Lebanese delegation on rare visit to Syria for fuel talks

dpa Damascus A high-level Lebanese government delegation on Saturday arrived in Damascus for the first time in more than a decade for talks on helping eas...

dpa DamascusA high-level Lebanese government delegation on Saturday arrived in Damascus for the first time in more than a decade for talks on helping ease a crippling fuel shortage in Lebanon.The delegation, led by Lebanese caretaker Defence Minister Zeina Akar, was the first to visit neighbouring Syria since a civil war erupted there in 2011.Lebanon generally distances itself from regional feuds, but the Lebanese pro-Iran Hezbollah movement has sent fighters to support the forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.The officials held talks with Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mikdad, who welcomed them at the border earlier on Saturday.Following the talks, head of the Syrian-Lebanese Higher Council, Nasri Khouri, said Syria had agreed to a Lebanese request to allow the passage of Egyptian gas via the Syrian territory to Lebanon.“The Lebanese side asked about Syria’s possible help to Lebanon in passing the Egyptian gas and Jordanian electricity. The Syrian side welcomed the request,” Khouri said, according to Syria’s state news agency SANA.Lebanon is experiencing its worst economic crisis since its 15-year civil war ended in 1990 amid a severe shortage of fuel.Last month, the UN children’s fund UNICEF said vital facilities such as hospitals and health centres have not had access to safe water due to electricity shortages, putting lives at risk.