The beginning of the week brought a new beginning with it on the local and regional levels, and sometimes on both. The visit of Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs Walid Moualem carrying an invitation to President Suleiman to visit Syria on one hand, and the clash that occurred between the army and the families of the detainees in the Syrian prisons on the other. What are the foreseen results for Moualem’s visit? And what happened near the Presidential Palace?

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mouallem arrived to Beirut on Monday through Beirut airport. He took the road to the Presidential Palace in Baabda, where the families of the Lebanese detainees in the Syrian prisons were being beaten at the same time by the Lebanese army.

After his meeting with president Suleiman, Mouallem stated, “I say to the families of those missing and those detained that he who has been patient for 30 years can wait a bit longer.”

On the other hand, “We hope the Syrian-Lebanese Committee resumes its work concerning the issue of the Lebanese and Syrian detainees. We hope that a solution will be reached in the end,” he added.

Political Analyst Marwan Dbaisseh from Al-liwa daily commented on Mouallem’s visit and said, “The visit of Minister Mouallem is really a turning point in the Lebanese-Syrian relationships, and it seems that it will be a positive start, especially that he mentioned the Lebanese in the Israeli prisons”

The Families of the Detainees in Syria decided to organize a peaceful sitting on the road leading to the Baabda Presidential Palace. The Families, whose desperate calls have been ignored for years, attempted to highlight their case.

However, the desperate calls of the Lebanese detainees were met by the hammering of the Lebanese Army, who assaulted the several old women and youngsters who were standing behind barracks on the side of the road”.

Alternatively, president of Solida Wadih Al-Asmar described the clash that occurred between the Lebanese army and the families of the detainees in the Syrian prisons “Our calls have long been ignored, so we decided, on the occasion of Moualem’s visit to Lebanon, to ask for our missing sons and deliver our letter of demands to the president. However, the army assaulted the mothers and children because they feared that they would block the road of Walid Moualem”.

After the clash, which resulted in several wounded, a delegation of the families was escorted to presidential palace where it met with General Mukari, head of the complaints department in the Presidential Palace whereas they handed him their letter of demands. The families later during the day were given an appointment with the president in order to carry their demands to Syria before his departure.

“We are fed up with words, what we need is actions. Many of those in power promised us a solution yet still nothing was executed”, said Wadi Al Asmar.

A mother told New tv, “I have never been assaulted by the Syrians or the Israelis like the army assaulted me”.

On the other hand, Dbaisseh explained that “the issue of the detainees in the Syrian prisons is an essential step to build a healthy relationship with our Syrian neighbors”.

Then again, Mouallem talked during his visit about Syria’s determination to open an embassy in Lebanon and said, “Opening embassies between Lebanon and Syria will not change the way things are done on the border.”

Mouallem commented on the U.S policy in the Middle East and said “We are seeing some changes in the administration’s behavior”.

Finally, Dbeisseh concluded, “there is definitely a change in the Syrian and American policy, however, only days can tell if that change will affect Lebanon positively or negatively. And only the future can tell if the promises that were made are serious or they will remain promises”.