Justice Minister Adel Nassar said Beirut will not hand over individuals convicted of killing soldiers or civilians as part of a draft judicial cooperation agreement being negotiated with Syria, insisting that Lebanon’s “well-established principles” on the issue are non-negotiable.

In remarks to Annahar, Nassar confirmed that talks between the Lebanese and Syrian sides are ongoing and that progress has been made on a draft agreement governing the transfer of prisoners between the two countries. However, he emphasized that “firm exceptions” have already been defined and that Lebanon will not compromise on key conditions.

“The meetings held so far were guided by well-established Lebanese principles that cannot be compromised,” Nassar said. “Most notably, we will not hand over those convicted of killing soldiers and civilians, or individuals involved in cases with private legal claims.”

Nassar noted that lawsuits involving personal rights would remain under Lebanese jurisdiction, saying that such cases “cannot be transferred under any circumstances.” He added that the same legal standards would apply to both Lebanon and Syria once the agreement is finalized.

“There will be a thorough assessment by each state before any transfer request is approved,” the minister explained. “We must ensure that judicial procedures and legal safeguards are fully guaranteed in any case of transfer.”

According to Nassar, the Ministry of Justice is continuing to refine the draft through a committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri. He said the discussions so far have reflected Lebanon’s commitment to protecting its judicial sovereignty and respecting the rights of victims.

“The ministry continues its work to complete the draft agreement,” he said. “The Syrian justice minister has already visited Beirut twice, and if an invitation is extended for us to visit Damascus, we will accept it. However, there is no specific date yet for the completion of the draft.”

Nassar also confirmed that discussions with his Syrian counterpart in Beirut had achieved “significant progress,” particularly in terms of defining exceptions for certain categories of convicts, including those found guilty of murder and rape.

He said Lebanon’s approach to the talks reflects a balance between humanitarian considerations and the need to uphold national security and justice.

“There are ongoing discussions regarding detainees who could be released because the charges against them are political rather than criminal,” he said.

On the issue of Syrian inmates in Lebanon, Nassar said the number of prisoners is not fixed but estimated at around 2,000.