(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - The meeting also dealt with the situation in Lebanon following the formation of the new government and the situation in Syria.
Mansour expressed Lebanon's utter rejection of foreign attempts to interfere in the Syrian internal affairs, stressing that stability in Lebanon is tied to stability in Syria.
He added that the two countries have much more in common than being neighbors, including historical, cultural and fraternal relations.
For his part, President al-Assad said Syria is set on continuing reforms with sure steps, stressing that dealing with the outlaws and the previously convicted who are blocking roads, closing cities and terrorizing citizens is the duty of state to protect the lives of citizens.
The meeting was attended by Foreign and Expatriates' Minister Walid al-Moallem, Presidential Political and Media Advisor Dr. Bouthaina Shaaban, Assistant Foreign Minister Ahmad Arnous, the Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdel Karim, the Lebanese Ambassador in Damascus Michel Khoury and the delegation accompanying Minister Mansour.
Vice President Farouk al-Shara discussed with Minister Mansour means of strengthening the Syrian-Lebanese relations and the situation in the regional and international arenas.
Minister al-Moallem also met the Lebanese Foreign Minister.
Minister Mansour, in a statement to the journalists following his meeting with al-Shara, said the talks with President al-Assad dealt with security, political and economic issues of concern for the two countries.
"We in Lebanon are keen on Syria's security and stability as they are interlinked with Lebanon's security and stability, and what harms Syria also harms Lebanon," Mansour added.
On the Lebanese government's stance towards smuggling weapons from Lebanon into Syria, Minister Mansour said "we are against any smuggling operation and we categorically reject any interference in Syria's affairs or any other Arab country's affairs."
Minister Mansour said there is a clear Lebanese stance represented in the Lebanese government's supportive stance to Syria, responding to a question on the interference of some Lebanese MPs in Syria's affair.
The Lebanese Foreign Minister denied the presence of displaced Syrians in Lebanon except a few of those who sought refuge at their relatives, pointing out that the majority of those have returned to Syria.
"We are monitoring what is happening in Syria with concern and we hope that security and stability will prevail in this country which has a leading role in the region and a special pan-Arab role in the Arab-Israeli conflict," Minister Mansour said earlier on the day in a statement to the National Lebanese News Agency at Jdeidet Yabous crossing point on the Syrian-Lebanese borders.
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