Lebanon-Syria 
Treaty of Brotherhood,
Cooperation, and Coordination,
May 20, 1991

The Lebanese Republic and the Syrian Arab Republic on the basis of the distinguished brotherly relations between them which serve their strength from the roots of kinship history common affiliation common destiny and joint strategic  interests; out of their belief  that the achievement of  the broadest cooperation and coordination between them will serve  their strategic interests and provide the means for ensuring their  development  and progress  and for defending their pan-Arab and national security  be a source of prosperity and stability enable them to  face  all  regional  and international  developments and meet the aspirations of  peoples of  the two countries; and in implementation of the Lebanese national accord which was ratified by the Lebanese Chamber of Deputies on 5 November 1989  have agreed on the following:

Article 1. The two states will work to achieve the highest  level of cooperation  and  coordination  in  all political   economic   security cultural  scientific  and other fields in a manner that will realize the interests of the two fraternal countries within the framework of respect for their  individual sovereignty  and independence  and will enable the two countries to use their political economic and security resources to provide prosperity and stability ensure their pan-Arab and national security and expand and strengthen  their common interests as an affirmation of  the brotherly  relations and  guarantee of  their common destiny.

Article  2. The two states will work to achieve cooperation and coordination in the economic agricultural industrial and commercial fields as well as in the fields of transportation communications customs the establishment of joint profits and coordination of development plans.

Article  3. The  connection between  the security  of the  two countries requires that  Lebanon not  become a threat to Syria's security and vice versa under any circumstances. Therefore   Lebanon will not allow itself to become a transit point or base for any force  state   or organization that seeks  to undermine  its security  or that of Syria.  Syria   which cherishes Lebanon's security  independence   and unity and the agreement among its  people will not  allow any  action that threatens Lebanon's security  independence  and sovereignty.

Article 4. After  the political reforms are approved in a constitutional manner   as stipulated  in the  Lebanese national accord   and after the deadlines specified in this accord have expired  the Syrian and Lebanese Governments will  decide on the redeployment of the Syrian forces in the al-Biqa' area and  the entrance to western al-Biqa' in Dahr as-Baydar up to the  Haammanah-al-Mudayri-'Any Dara  line and  if necessary  in other points to  be specified  by a  joint Lebanese-Syrian military committee. The two  governments will  conclude an agreement specifying the size and duration  of   the  Syrian  forces' presence  in  these  areas  and  the relationship of these forces with the authorities of the Lebanese state.

Article 5. The  two states' Arab  and international foreign policy shall be based on the following principles:

1. Lebanon and  Syria are  Arab states  which are  committed to the Arab League Charter   the  Arab defense  pact and joint economic cooperation and all  agreements ratified  within the  framework of  the Arab League. They are members of the United Nations and are committed to its Charter. They are also members of the Non-aligned Movement.

2. The two countries share a common destiny and common interests.

3. Each country supports the other in issues related to its security and national  interests  in  accordance  of  the  contents  of  this treaty. Therefore the governments of the two countries shall coordinate their Arab  and  international  policies cooperate to the fullest extent possible in Arab and international institutions and organizations and coordinate their stands on regional and international issues.

Article 6. The  following bodies shall be formed to achieve the goals of this treaty.  Other  bodies can  be established  by a  decision from the Supreme Council.

1. The Supreme Council:

A.  The  supreme  council  will  consist of  the presidents  of the  two contracting countries and a number of other members from both countries.

B.  The supreme  council will meet at least once a year and more often when necessary at a venue to be agreed upon.

C.  The supreme  council charts  the general policy for coordination and cooperation between the two states in the political  economic  security military   and other  fields.  It also  supervises the implementation of this policy  and adopts  the plans  and decisions  that are  made by the executive body   the foreign affairs committee   the economic and social affairs committee   the  defense and security affairs committee   or any committee  that  is  established  in  the  future    provided  that  the constitutional provisions of the two countries are respected.

D.  The supreme council's decisions are binding and effective within the framework of  the constitutional  laws and  rules of  the two countries except for  those decisions  which require the approval of the executive or legislative authorities in the two countries under their constitutional provisions.

E.  The supreme  council defines  the subjects  on which  the committees concerned have the right to make decisions. Once they are issued   these decisions  assume  an  executive  nature  within  the  framework  of the constitutional laws and rules  of the  two countries   except for those decisions which  require the  approval of  the executive  or legislative authorities in the two countries under their constitutional provisions.

2. The Executive Body:

The  executive  body  will  consist of  the prime  ministers of  the two countries and a number of ministers concerned with the relations between them. This body will assume the following tasks:

A.  To follow  up on  the implementation  of the decisions and to submit reports to the supreme council on the phases of implementation.

B.  To coordinate  the recommendations  and decisions of the specialized committees and to submit the proposals to the supreme council.

C.  To hold  meetings with  the specialized committees whenever the need arises.

D. The executive body will meet at least once every six months  and more often when necessary  at a venue to be agreed upon.

3. The Foreign Affairs Committee:

A.  The foreign  affairs committee  will consist  of the  two countries' foreign ministers.

B.  The foreign  affairs committee  will meet  at least  once every  two months  and more often when necessary  in the two countries' capitals on a rotating basis.

C.  The foreign  affairs committee  will seek  to coordinate the foreign policy of  the two  countries with  regard to  their relations  with all countries.  The committee  will work  to coordinate their activities and stands at Arab and international organizations.  The relevant plans will be drawn up and submitted to the supreme council.

4. The Economic and Social Affairs Committee:

A.  The  economic  and  social  affairs  committee  will consist  of the ministers concerned in the two countries in economic and social sectors.

B.  The  economic  and social  affairs committee  will meet  in the  two countries' capitals on  a rotating basis at least once every two months and more often when necessary.

C.  The economic  and social  affairs committee  will be responsible for working  to  attain  economic  and social  coordination between  the two countries and  for drawing up the recommendations that will lead to such coordination.

D.  The  recommendations  adopted  by  the economic  and social  affairs committee will  take effect after they have been endorsed by the supreme council  in  accordance with  the constitutional  provisions of  the two countries.

5. The Defense and Security Affairs Committee:

A.  The defense  and security  affairs committee will consist of the two countries' ministers of defense and interior.

B.  The defense  and security  affairs committee will be responsible for studying the  adequate measures  needed to  safeguard the two countries' security and for suggesting joint measures to confront any aggression or threat  endangering  their  national  security  or  any unrest  that may disturb their internal security.

C. All plans  recommendations   and measures prepared by the defense and security affairs  committee will be submitted to the supreme council for endorsement after  taking into consideration the constitutional rules of the two countries.

6. The General Secretariat:

A.   A  general  secretariat  will  be  created  to  follow  up  on  the implementation of the provisions of this treaty.

B.  The general  secretariat will be headed by a secretary general   who will be appointed by the supreme council.

C.  The headquarters   specialization   basis  and budget of the general secretariat will be determined by the supreme council.

Closing Provisions:

A.  Special agreements  shall be  concluded between the two countries in the fields  covered by  this treaty   such  as the  economic   security defense   and other fields   in accordance with the constitutional rules in each of the two countries  and shall complement this treaty.

B. This treaty shall take effect after being ratified by the authorities of the two countries in accordance with their constitutional provisions.

C.  Each of  the two countries will abrogate any law or regulation which is not  in line with this treaty.  Such abrogation will be done in a way that does not violate any constitutional provision in either country.