Deputy foreign affairs minister Aziz Pahad concluded his visit to Lebanon yesterday after meeting there with acting Foreign Minister Michel Samaha, the Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri and with the militant Islamic group Hezbollah.

The meeting followed discussions in Damascus on Monday with Deputy Syrian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Farouq al-Sharaa and Deputy Syrian Foreign Minister Issa Darwish.

The South African Foreign Affairs Department said South Africa shared a common vision regarding a number of multilateral issues with Syria and Lebanon and wanted to create conditions for increased interaction.

Besides these multilateral issues, the department said delegates also concluded discussions on the need to find a comprehensive solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as well as the consequences of the war in Iraq.

Syria and Lebanon both expressed their support for the Middle East "Road Map" and the department said the plan should now be implemented unconditionally - a reference to Israel's reservations about the plan.

Regarding the Iraq invasion, the department said all three countries' officials agreed that the territorial integrity of Iraq should be maintained and expressed concern about the increased incidents of terrorism in the wake of the war.

They also reportedly agreed that it was "essential to distinguish between terrorism and legitimate struggle accepted by international law and the UN Charter".

The department said the Syrians were pleased that South Africa would shortly be opening a mission in Damascus while the Lebanese authorities expressed the need for South African representation in their country.

In both Syria and Lebanon, the potential for economic relations was substantial. Both the private sector and parastatals in South Africa should exploit these windows of opportunity for expansion, the department said.

Pahad will depart today for the United Arab Emirates. – Sapa.