Syrian president arrives for landmark visit

(3 Mar 2002)

1. Wide of airstrip
2. Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri (left) and Lebanese President Emile Lahoud (centre) waiting
3. Helicopter patrolling sky
4. Aeroplane taxiing
5. Syrian President Bashar Assad stepping down, being greeted
6. Cutaway
7. Assad with officials
8. Guard of honour
9. Various of listening to national anthem
10. Various of getting into limo
11. Various of departure
12. Limo arrives at official building
13. Assad and officials walking towards and past camera
14. Assad sitting down for photo op with Lahoud
15. Various of meeting
16. Military guards

STORYLINE:

President Bashar Assad arrived in Lebanon on Sunday for the first visit by a Syrian president in 26 years.

Assad's trip is aimed at coordinating policy for the Arab summit scheduled to be held in Beirut towards the end of the month.

Assad and the Lebanese government are certain to discuss the recent Saudi initiative to bring peace between Israel and the Palestinians, Lebanon and Syria.

Cannons fired a 21-gun salute as Lebanese President Emile Lahoud and Prime Minister Rafik Hariri welcomed Assad at Beirut International Airport.

Assad's visit has significance in terms of Syrian-Lebanese relations.

His late father, Hafez Assad, whom Bashar succeeded in July 2000, never travelled to Beirut during his 30-year presidency.

However, Hafez Assad did meet former Lebanese President Elias Sarkis at Chtaura, just inside the Lebanese border with Syria, in 1976.

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives ​​
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/e2b2806199fb0de10d0b47722050b6e3

Видео Syrian president arrives for landmark visit канала AP Archive