Reasons behind Syria's decision to put off border meeting with Lebanon

There are hidden reasons behind the official Syrian story regarding the rejected meeting on Wednesday between a Lebanese delegation and top Syrian officials, al-Akhbar newspaper reported Tuesday.

The daily claimed that Syria was dismayed that President Michel Aoun's decision to discuss the maritime border demarcation with Syria was not shared with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati, and that Mikati did not initiate any contact with Syria.

"Syria is discontent with Lebanon's position and its ambiguous official relations with Syria," the daily went on to say, quoting Syrian and Lebanese sources.

"the Lebanese government is still boycotting Syria to please the West, limiting its relations with Syria to security coordination and public relations," the sources said.

The daily said that Russia is also discontent with Lebanon's position since the start of its war on Ukraine, stressing that a Russian company has been licensed to explore gas in a Syrian block disputed with Lebanon.

Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdul Karim Ali stated Tuesday that "The meeting was not canceled but the date will be later agreed upon."

He said that Lebanon announced the day of the visit before checking with Syria, and that the top Syrian officials had "previously-scheduled engagements" on the day that Lebanon specified.

"The delegation had no specific agenda and the appointment's date that Lebanon announced hadn't been discussed and agreed upon with Syria," al-Akhbar said, adding that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had showed positivity concerning the matter, in a call with Aoun, days ago. "But the agreement on resuming the border talks was general," the daily said.