DAMASCUS, Sept 1: United Nations chief Kofi Annan said on Friday he had won a Syrian pledge to respect an arms embargo against Hezbollah, on the latest leg of a Middle East tour aimed at shoring up a truce in Lebanon.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whose country is widely believed to funnel arms to the Lebanese group, vowed to help implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701, he said.

“The president committed to me that Syria shall take all necessary measures to implement in full paragraph 15 of Resolution 1701 (which) deals with the arms embargo and rearmament” of Hezbollah, Mr Annan told reporters.

He said the Syrian leader had undertaken in their meeting to help secure the border with Lebanon by increasing the number of guards deployed there and by establishing liaison mechanism with the Lebanese army and border police.

Syria would also establish, where possible, joint border patrols and control points with Lebanese authorities, while Mr Assad had agreed to international personnel providing technical assistance to the Lebanese.

“Syria is an important regional player, the international community is looking to Syria to play a constructive role in this crucial period,” the UN chief said. There was no immediate comment from Damascus itself or from Israel on the Annan-Assad talks.

The UN resolution which halted Israel’s month-long war in Lebanon calls for an arms embargo against Hezbollah along with the deployment of Lebanese and international troops in south Lebanon.

Damascus last month threatened to close its border with Lebanon if UN peacekeepers were deployed on it under the UN resolution that led to the Aug 14 ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel.

Mr Annan said he had also discussed with Mr Assad the establishment of diplomatic relations between Syria and Lebanon.

“The president informed me that Syria is prepared to establish normal diplomatic relations with Lebanon ... and that Syria is prepared to go ahead with the delineation of its border with Lebanon,” Mr Annan said.

That could include the disputed Shebaa Farms district, located at the junction of Lebanon, Syria and Israel, and captured by Israel in 1967.—AFP