Treaty for Brotherhood, Cooperation and Coordination

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Country/entity: Lebanon
Syria
Region: Middle East and North Africa
Agreement name: Treaty for Brotherhood, Cooperation and Coordination
Date: 22 May 1991
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Interstate/intrastate conflict(s)
Arab-Israeli Conflicts (1948 - )
This conflict involves Israelis and Palestinians over territory and belonging and has long historical antecedents. The agreements post-1990 are between the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) and Israel, with some supporting inter-state agreements (i.e. between Israel and Jordan). More recently the importance of the once dominating Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) has diminished not in the least due to the effective disappearance of its left-wing members and the loss of the popularity of their political wing, Fatah. Hamas and other Islamic groups have attained significant relevance in Fatah’s stead, with Hamas controlling the Gaza strip (from which Israel ultimately unilaterally withdrew (not coded as a peace agreement).

Geo-political implications of the conflict have been considerable across the MENA region.
Stage: Framework/substantive - partial
Conflict nature: Territory
Peace process: Lebanon-Syria conflict resolution process
Parties: Elias Haraoui, signed on behalf of the Lebanese Republic; Hafez al-Asad, signed on behalf of the Syrian Arab Republic.
Third parties: -
Description: Agreement lays out provisions for withdrawal of Syrian troops, as well as creating joint Syrian-Lebanese councils coordinating on Defense and Security, Economy and Foreign Affairs as well as the Supreme Council which is the forum for the executive for both heads of state. Conflict was to ignite again in 2005.

Agreement document: LB_SY_910522_Treaty Brotherhood Cooperation Coordination.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): Page 1, Article I
The two States shall endeavour to achieve the highest degree of cooperation and coordination in the political, economic, security, cultural, scientific and other fields for the benefit of both fraternal countries within the framework of their individual sovereignty and independence and so as to enable the two countries to use their political, economic and security potential to provide for their prosperity and stability, protect their regional and national security and broaden and strengthen their joint interests in confirmation of their fraternal relations and as a pledge of their common destiny.

Page 1, Article 3
The interdependence of the security of the two countries shall require that Lebanon shall not, under any circumstances, be made a source of threat to the security of Syria, or Syria to the security of Lebanon. Accordingly, Lebanon shall not afford passage or provide a base for any force, State or organization seeking to infringe upon its security or the security of Syria, and Syria, desiring to ensure the security, independence and unity of Lebanon and harmony among its citizens, shall not permit any action which threatens the security, independence or sovereignty of Lebanon.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): No specific mention.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: No specific mention.
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: Governance→Constitution→Constitution affirmation/renewal
Page 3, Article 6
The following organs shall be set up to achieve the objectives of the present Treaty, and other organs may be created by decision of the Supreme Council referred to below:
1. The Supreme Council
... (d) The resolutions of the Supreme Council shall be binding and shall enter into force within the framework of the constitutional arrangements of each of the two States.
Governance→Constitution→Constitutional reform/making
Page 2, Article 4
After the institution of political reforms in constitutional form in accordance with the provisions of the Lebanese National Charter and on the expiry of the time-limits prescribed in the Charter, the Syrian and Lebanese Governments shall decide on the redeployment of Syrian forces in the region of the Bekaa and the entry to the Western Bekaa at Dahr el Baidar as far as the line Hammana-Mdairej-Ain Dara and, in case of need, at other points to be determined through the agency of a joint Syrian-Lebanese military commission, and agreement shall be reached be tween the two Governments concerning the determination of the size of the Syrian forces, the duration of their presence in the above-mentioned areas and the relation ship between these forces and the authorities of the Lebanese State in the places where they are present.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: Power sharing→Political power sharing→Other
Page 2, Article 6
The following organs shall be set up to achieve the objectives of the present Treaty, and other organs may be created by decision of the Supreme Council referred to below:
1. The Supreme Council
... (c) The Supreme Council shall establish the general policy for coordination and cooperation between the two States in the political, economic, security, military and other fields and shall supervise their implementation and shall endorse the plans and resolutions adopted by the Follow-up and Coordination Board and by the Foreign Affairs Committee, the Economic and Social Committee, the Defence and Security Committee and any committee created subsequently.

... (d) The resolutions of the Supreme Council shall be binding and shall enter into force within the framework of the constitutional arrangements of each of the two States.
... (e) The Supreme Council shall determine the subjects on which the specialized committees shall be entitled to adopt decisions, which shall acquire executive force as soon as they have been promulgated by such committees, in accordance with the constitutional arrangements and principles of each of the two States or to the extent that they do not conflict with such arrangements and principles.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: No specific mention.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: Page 2, Article 5
The inter-Arab and international foreign policy of the two States shall be based on the following principles:
1. Syria and Lebanon, as Arab countries, are bound by the pact of the League of Arab States, by the Joint Defence and Economic Cooperation Treaty between the States of the Arab League and by all agreements ratified within the framework of the League. They are also Members of the United Nations and are bound by its Charter and are members of the Non-Aligned Movement;
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: No specific mention.
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: Justice sector reform→Criminal justice and emergency law→Reform to specific laws
Page 4-5, Final provisions
... 3. Each of the two States undertakes to abrogate laws and arrangements which are not in accordance with this Treaty to the extent that such action is not incompatible with the constitutional provisions of the two States.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: Socio-economic reconstruction→Development or socio-economic reconstruction→Socio-economic development
Page 1, Article 2
The two States shall endeavour to achieve cooperation and coordination between them in the fields of the economy, agriculture, industry, commerce, transport and communications and customs, to set up joint projects and to coordinate development plans.
National economic plan: Page 1, Article 2
The two States shall endeavour to achieve cooperation and coordination between them in the fields of the economy, agriculture, industry, commerce, transport and communications and customs, to set up joint projects and to coordinate development plans.

Page 3, Article 6
The following organs shall be set up to achieve the objectives of the present Treaty, and other organs may be created by decision of the Supreme Council referred to below:
2. Follow-up and Coordination Board
The Follow-up and Coordination Board shall comprise the Prime Ministers of the two countries and a number of ministers concerned with relations between them, and it shall be entrusted with the following functions:
(a) Following up the implementation of the decisions of the Supreme Council and forwarding to the Council reports on the stages of implementation;
(b) Coordinating the recommendations and decisions of the specialized committees and forwarding the proposals to the Supreme Council;
(c) Convening meetings as necessary with the specialized committees;
(d) The Board shall meet every six months and whenever necessary at a place to be agreed.
3. Foreign Affairs Committee
(a) The Foreign Affairs Committee shall comprise the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the two countries.
(b) The Foreign Affairs Committee shall meet once every two months and whenever necessary in each of the two States alternately.
(c) The Foreign Affairs Committee shall endeavour to coordinate the foreign policies of the two States in their relations with all other States and also to coordinate their activities and positions in inter-Arab and international organizations and shall for that purpose prepare plans for adoption by the Supreme Council.

Page 4, 4. Economic and Social Committee
(a) The Economic and Social Committee shall comprise the ministers responsible in the two States for the economic and social sectors.
(b) The Economic and Social Committee shall meet once every two months and whenever necessary in each of the two States alternately.
(c) The mandate of the Economic and Social Committee shall be to endeavour to achieve the economic and social coordination of the two States and to prepare recommendations to that end.
(d) The recommendations adopted by the Economic and Social Committee shall become effective after endorsement by the Supreme Council, subject to the constitutional principles of each of the two States.

Page 4-5, Final provisions
1. Special agreements shall be concluded between the two countries in the fields covered by the present Treaty, such as the economic, security, defence and other fields, in accordance with the constitutional principles of each of the two countries, and shall be regarded as an integral part of this Treaty.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: Page 1, Article 2
The two States shall endeavour to achieve cooperation and coordination between them in the fields of the economy, agriculture, industry, commerce, transport and communications and customs, to set up joint projects and to coordinate development plans.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: Land, property and environment→Cultural heritage→Promotion
Page 1, Article I
The two States shall endeavour to achieve the highest degree of cooperation and coordination in the political, economic, security, cultural, scientific and other fields for the benefit of both fraternal countries within the framework of their individual sovereignty and independence and so as to enable the two countries to use their political, economic and security potential to provide for their prosperity and stability, protect their regional and national security and broaden and strengthen their joint interests in confirmation of their fraternal relations and as a pledge of their common destiny.
Land, property and environment→Cultural heritage→Other
Page 1, The Syrian Arab Republic and the Lebanese Republic, untitled preamble,
On the basis of the distinctive fraternal ties that link them and that draw their strength from their roots of kinship, history, common affiliation, joint destiny and shared interests,
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: Page 1, The Syrian Arab Republic and the Lebanese Republic,
On the basis of the distinctive fraternal ties that link them and that draw their strength from their roots of kinship, history, common affiliation, joint destiny and shared interests,
In the belief that the attainment of the fullest cooperation and coordination will serve their interests and provide means of ensuring their development and progress and of safeguarding their regional and national security, that it will promote their prosperity and stability and will enable them to cope with all regional and international developments, and that it will meet the aspirations of the peoples of the two countries in compliance with the Lebanese National Charter approved by the National Assembly on 5 November 1989,

Page 1, Article I
The two States shall endeavour to achieve the highest degree of cooperation and coordination in the political, economic, security, cultural, scientific and other fields for the benefit of both fraternal countries within the framework of their individual sovereignty and independence and so as to enable the two countries to use their political, economic and security potential to provide for their prosperity and stability, protect their regional and national security and broaden and strengthen their joint interests in confirmation of their fraternal relations and as a pledge of their common destiny.

Page 1, Article 3
The interdependence of the security of the two countries shall require that Lebanon shall not, under any circumstances, be made a source of threat to the security of Syria, or Syria to the security of Lebanon. Accordingly, Lebanon shall not afford passage or provide a base for any force, State or organization seeking to infringe upon its security or the security of Syria, and Syria, desiring to ensure the security, independence and unity of Lebanon and harmony among its citizens, shall not permit any action which threatens the security, independence or sovereignty of Lebanon.

Page 2, Article 5
The inter-Arab and international foreign policy of the two States shall be based on the following principles:
... 3. Each of them shall support the other in matters pertaining to its security and national interests in accordance with the provisions of the present Treaty.

Page 2, Article 6
The following organs shall be set up to achieve the objectives of the present Treaty, and other organs may be created by decision of the Supreme Council referred to below:
1. The Supreme Council
... (c) The Supreme Council shall establish the general policy for coordination and cooperation between the two States in the political, economic, security, military and other fields and shall supervise their implementation and shall endorse the plans and resolutions adopted by the Follow-up and Coordination Board and by the Foreign Affairs Committee, the Economic and Social Committee, the Defence and Security Committee and any committee created subsequently.

Page 4, 5. Defence and Security Committee
(a) The Defence and Security Committee shall comprise the Ministers of De fence and the Ministers of the Interior of the two States.
(b) The mandate of the Defence and Security Committee shall be to study means of ensuring the maintenance of security in the two States and to propose joint measures to withstand any aggression or threat to their regional security or to counter any unrest prejudicial to the internal security of either State.
(c) All plans and recommendations prepared by the Defence and Security Committee shall be submitted for adoption by the Supreme Council, subject to the constitutional principles of each of the two countries.

Page 4-5, Final provisions
1. Special agreements shall be concluded between the two countries in the fields covered by the present Treaty, such as the economic, security, defence and other fields, in accordance with the constitutional principles of each of the two countries, and shall be regarded as an integral part of this Treaty.
Ceasefire: No specific mention.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: No specific mention.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: Page 2, Article 4
After the institution of political reforms in constitutional form in accordance with the provisions of the Lebanese National Charter and on the expiry of the time-limits prescribed in the Charter, the Syrian and Lebanese Governments shall decide on the redeployment of Syrian forces in the region of the Bekaa and the entry to the Western Bekaa at Dahr el Baidar as far as the line Hammana-Mdairej-Ain Dara and, in case of need, at other points to be determined through the agency of a joint Syrian-Lebanese military commission, and agreement shall be reached be tween the two Governments concerning the determination of the size of the Syrian forces, the duration of their presence in the above-mentioned areas and the relation ship between these forces and the authorities of the Lebanese State in the places where they are present.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: No specific mention.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: Page 4, 6. General Secretariat
(a) A General Secretariat shall be established to follow up the implementation of the provisions of this Treaty.
(b) The General Secretariat shall be headed by a Secretary-General who shall be appointed by decision of the Supreme Council.
(c) The headquarters, mandate, staff and budget of the General Secretariat shall be determined by decision of the Supreme Council.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: Peacemaker, http://peacemaker.un.org/sites/peacemaker.un.org/files/LB-SY_910522_TreatyBrotherhoodCooperationCoordination.pdf

TREATY OF BROTHERHOOD, COOPERATION AND COORDINATION BETWEEN THE SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC AND THE LEBANESE REPUBLIC

The Syrian Arab Republic and the Lebanese Republic,

On the basis of the distinctive fraternal ties that link them and that draw their strength from their roots of kinship, history, common affiliation, joint destiny and shared interests,

In the belief that the attainment of the fullest cooperation and coordination will serve their interests and provide means of ensuring their development and progress and of safeguarding their regional and national security, that it will promote their prosperity and stability and will enable them to cope with all regional and international developments, and that it will meet the aspirations of the peoples of the two countries in compliance with the

Lebanese National Charter approved by the National Assembly on 5 November 1989,

Have agreed as follows:

Article I

The two States shall endeavour to achieve the highest degree of cooperation and coordination in the political, economic, security, cultural, scientific and other fields for the benefit of both fraternal countries within the framework of their individual sovereignty and independence and so as to enable the two countries to use their political, economic and security potential to provide for their prosperity and stability, protect their regional and national security and broaden and strengthen their joint interests in confirmation of their fraternal relations and as a pledge of their common destiny.

Article 2

The two States shall endeavour to achieve cooperation and coordination between them in the fields of the economy, agriculture, industry, commerce, transport and communications and customs, to set up joint projects and to coordinate development plans.

Article 3

The interdependence of the security of the two countries shall require that Lebanon shall not, under any circumstances, be made a source of threat to the security of Syria, or Syria to the security of Lebanon.

Accordingly, Lebanon shall not afford passage or provide a base for any force, State or organization seeking to infringe upon its security or the security of Syria, and Syria, desiring to ensure the security, independence and unity of Lebanon and harmony among its citizens, shall not permit any action which threatens the security, independence or sovereignty of Lebanon.

Article 4

After the institution of political reforms in constitutional form in accordance with the provisions of the Lebanese National Charter and on the expiry of the time-limits prescribed in the Charter, the Syrian and Lebanese Governments shall decide on the redeployment of Syrian forces in the region of the Bekaa and the entry to the Western Bekaa at Dahr el Baidar as far as the line Hammana-Mdairej-Ain Dara and, in case of need, at other points to be determined through the agency of a joint Syrian-Lebanese military commission, and agreement shall be reached between the two Governments concerning the determination of the size of the Syrian forces, the duration of their presence in the above-mentioned areas and the relationship between these forces and the authorities of the Lebanese State in the places where they are present.

Article 5

The inter-Arab and international foreign policy of the two States shall be based on the following principles:

1. Syria and Lebanon, as Arab countries, are bound by the pact of the League of Arab States, by the Joint Defence and Economic Cooperation Treaty between the States of the Arab League and by all agreements ratified within the framework of the League.

They are also Members of the United Nations and are bound by its Charter and are members of the Non-Aligned Movement;

2. The common destiny and common interests of the two countries;

3. Each of them shall support the other in matters pertaining to its security and national interests in accordance with the provisions of the present Treaty.

Accordingly, the Governments of the two countries shall endeavour to coordinate their inter-Arab and international policies, to achieve the fullest cooperation in inter-Arab and international institutions and organizations and to coordinate their positions on the various regional and international issues.

Article 6

The following organs shall be set up to achieve the objectives of the present Treaty, and other organs may be created by decision of the Supreme Council referred to below:

1. The Supreme Council

(a) The Supreme Council shall comprise the President of the Republic in each of the Contracting States together with:

-The Speaker of the People's Assembly, the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister of the Syrian Arab Republic;

-The President of the National Assembly, the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister of the Lebanese Republic.

(b) The Supreme Council shall meet once a year and whenever necessary at a place to be agreed.

(c) The Supreme Council shall establish the general policy for coordination and cooperation between the two States in the political, economic, security, military and other fields and shall supervise their implementation and shall endorse the plans and resolutions adopted by the Follow-up and Coordination Board and by the Foreign Affairs Committee, the Economic and Social Committee, the Defence and Security Committee and any committee created subsequently.

(d) The resolutions of the Supreme Council shall be binding and shall enter into force within the framework of the constitutional arrangements of each of the two States.

(e) The Supreme Council shall determine the subjects on which the specialized committees shall be entitled to adopt decisions, which shall acquire executive force as soon as they have been promulgated by such committees, in accordance with the constitutional arrangements and principles of each of the two States or to the extent that they do not conflict with such arrangements and principles.

2. Follow-up and Coordination Board

The Follow-up and Coordination Board shall comprise the Prime Ministers of the two countries and a number of ministers concerned with relations between them, and it shall be entrusted with the following functions:

(a) Following up the implementation of the decisions of the Supreme Council and forwarding to the Council reports on the stages of implementation;

(b) Coordinating the recommendations and decisions of the specialized committees and forwarding the proposals to the Supreme Council;

(d) The Board shall meet every six months and whenever necessary at a place to be agreed.

3. Foreign Affairs Committee

(a) The Foreign Affairs Committee shall comprise the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the two countries.

(b) The Foreign Affairs Committee shall meet once every two months and whenever necessary in each of the two States alternately.

(c) The Foreign Affairs Committee shall endeavour to coordinate the foreign policies of the two States in their relations with all other States and also to coordinate their activities and positions in inter-Arab and international organizations and shall for that purpose prepare plans for adoption by the Supreme Council.

4. Economic and Social Committee

(a) The Economic and Social Committee shall comprise the ministers responsible in the two States for the economic and social sectors.

(b) The Economic and Social Committee shall meet once every two months and whenever necessary in each of the two States alternately.

(c) The mandate of the Economic and Social Committee shall be to endeavour to achieve the economic and social coordination of the two States and to prepare recommendations to that end.

(d) The recommendations adopted by the Economic and Social Committee shall become effective after endorsement by the Supreme Council, subject to the constitutional principles of each of the two States.

5. Defence and Security Committee

(a) The Defence and Security Committee shall comprise the Ministers of Defence and the Ministers of the Interior of the two States.

(b) The mandate of the Defence and Security Committee shall be to study means of ensuring the maintenance of security in the two States and to propose joint measures to withstand any aggression or threat to their regional security or to counter any unrest prejudicial to the internal security of either State.

(c) All plans and recommendations prepared by the Defence and Security Committee shall be submitted for adoption by the Supreme Council, subject to the constitutional principles of each of the two countries.

6. General Secretariat

(a) A General Secretariat shall be established to follow up the implementation of the provisions of this Treaty.

(b) The General Secretariat shall be headed by a Secretary-General who shall be appointed by decision of the Supreme Council.

(c) The headquarters, mandate, staff and budget of the General Secretariat shall be determined by decision of the Supreme Council.

Final provisions

I. Special agreements shall be concluded between the two countries in the fields covered by the present Treaty, such as the economic, security, defence and other fields, in accordance with the constitutional principles of each of the two countries, and shall be regarded as an integral part of this Treaty.

2. This Treaty shall come into force after ratification by the competent authorities, in accordance with the constitutional procedures of the two Contracting States.

3. Each of the two States undertakes to abrogate laws and

arrangements which are not in accordance with this Treaty to the extent that such action is not incompatible with the constitutional provisions of the two States.

Damascus, 22 May 1991

For the Syrian Arab Republic:

HAFEZ AL-ASSAD

President of the Syrian Arab Republic

For the Lebanese Republic:

ELIAS HRAOUI

President of the Lebanese Republic