President Michel Aoun stressed that the interests of the Lebanese is an utmost priority, promising to continue negotiations to ensure the restoration of exports by land to Arab countries. Aoun was speaking on August 31st during his meeting with a delegation of the Importers and Exporters of Vegetables and Fruits in Lebanon Syndicate who came to express their anguish and suffering as a result of the closing of the border crossing with Syria. The head of the Syndicate, Saleh Khalil, supported Aoun’s stance and efforts to reopen Nassib Crossing, as well as the Tanaf and Bu Kamal crossings between Syria and Iraq. In turn, the head of the Beqaa Farmers Association, Ibrahim Tarshishi, warned it is unacceptable to keep Nassib closed in the face of made-in-Lebanon goods destined to Arab countries. In the same context, a delegation of the Banana Farmers in the South visited Hizbullah led bloc MP, Nawaf Mousawi, in Tyre to ask Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah to mediate in order to remove obstacles impeding the entry of their products to neighboring Syria. Mousawi clarified that while there are regional political reasons preventing some officials from seeking to restore relations with Syria that will positively impact the lives of the Lebanese, other officials have no objection. He suggested in this respect that the Lebanese foreign minister visits his Syrian counterpart to discuss bilateral cooperation to ensure a legal and political framework in light of which concerned ministers, in the field of agriculture or industry could act. (Al Diyar, September 1, 3, 2018)