BEIRUT: The Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdul-Karim Ali discussed with Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour Wednesday bilateral relations, including protecting the Lebanese-Syrian borders and preventing the smuggling of arms into Syria, the state-run National News Agency reported.

“Minister Mansour was keen on stressing the need for safeguarding the border, preventing any acts of arms smuggling, any breach of security on the border and anything that harms the brotherly relations between the two sisterly countries,” Ali told reporters after the meeting.

On the situation in Syria, Ali said: “It should be clear to everyone that Syria, with its steps toward reforms, is confident of the unity of its people and of all the popular parties rallying around reforms led by President [Bashar] Assad.

Syria next week will hold local council elections throughout the country.” Ali declined to say if Syria had received the Arab League’s response to its acceptance of an Arab plan to send monitors to Damascus, but said: “Syria is clear with its attitudes, policies and steps.”

He added that backed by snowballing popular support, Syria knows how to overcome “a conspiracy” hatched against it.