President Al-Shara discusses with the French Chief of Staff the strengthening of cooperation and coordination
President Ahmed Al-Sharaa received, on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at the People's Palace in Damascus, the Chief of Staff to the President of the French Republic, General Vincent Giroud, and his accompanying delegation, in the presence of Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Asaad Al-Shaibani.
In a statement published on its official profiles, the Presidency said that the meeting touched on "a number of files of common interest, in addition to reviewing the developments in the region, and ways to enhance coordination and cooperation between Syria and France."
French initiative to demarcate the Syrian-Lebanese border
On Tuesday, the French general discussed with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun the details of the French initiative aimed at contributing to the demarcation of the land border between Lebanon and Syria, as part of a renewed diplomatic effort led by Paris.
The initiative is based on maps and historical documents from the archives of the French Mandate period (1920-1943), which Paris had previously handed over to the two parties, with the aim of facilitating the identification of overlapping border points and establishing clear technical foundations for the demarcation process.
According to official sources, through this step, France aims to end decades of border problems, strengthen Lebanese sovereignty, help control illegal crossings and curb smuggling, which will reflect stability on the border and the region in general.
Aoun: The file of the Shebaa Farms has been postponed to a later stage
During the meeting, President Aoun stressed the readiness of the Lebanese technical committees to start the land and sea demarcation process as soon as the Syrian side receives the decision, noting that the Shab'a farms file may be postponed to a later stage due to its regional complexities.
A statement issued by the Lebanese presidency said that the meeting at Baabda Palace discussed security and military coordination, the role of the Lebanese army in protecting the borders, in addition to the ongoing preparations for upcoming international conferences aimed at supporting Lebanese military institutions.
The French initiative includes a "technical package" that includes maps of the Mandate (1920-1943) and minutes of joint committees from 1933, aimed at demarcating the land border between Lebanon and Syria and determining land ownership, in addition to including a plan to control the borders through the activation of the Joint Technical Committee, and the development of official outlets such as the Qamar Bridge to combat smuggling.