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October 14, 2008

Syria Opens Formal Diplomatic Ties with Lebanon
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1EB6637:A6F02AD83191E16062EE3A071E1C89BD5C6F54A6CF9DC2CA&
 
President Bashar al-Assad signs decree calling for creation of
diplomatic embassy at ambassador level in Beirut 
Bashar al-Assad Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has issued a decree
formally establishing diplomatic ties with next-door neighbor Lebanon.
The decree was announced Tuesday by the official Syrian news agency. It
calls for the creation of a diplomatic embassy at the ambassador level
in the Lebanese capital of Beirut. Mr. Assad and Lebanese President
Michel Suleiman agreed to establish relations back in August, during
talks in Paris with French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy. The two
countries have not had embassies in each other's capitals since they
both gained independence from France more than 60 years ago. Relations
between Damascus and Beirut have been strained since the 2005
assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri. Syria was
blamed for Hariri's murder, and withdrew its troops from Lebanon a few
months later under international pressure, ending a three-decade long
occupation. Syria had denied any involvement in Hariri's death. During
Mr. Suleiman!
 's official visit to Damascus in August, he and Mr. Assad also agreed
to formally demarcate the Syrian-Lebanese border as part of the process
of improving relations.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP. 


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