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Lebanon wants to open embassy in Syria

Lebanese President Michel Sulaiman said on Saturday Beirut would like to open an embassy in Damascus which would strengthen relations between the two Arab neighbours.

  • Reuters
  • Published: 21:02 July 12, 2008
  • Gulf News

Paris, France: Lebanese President Michel Sulaiman said on Saturday Beirut would like to open an embassy in Damascus which would strengthen relations between the two Arab neighbours.

He was speaking ahead of a four-way meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Syrian President Bashar Al Assad and Qatar's Emir Shaikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani,

A French official said an announcement on Lebanon and Syria opening embassies in each other's capitals could be part of the declaration.

"We too obviously want an exchange of ambassadors and diplomatic relations with Syria," he told reporters after meeting Sarkozy.

Syria has long been a dominant player in Lebanon's political and military affairs but the two sides have never exchanged ambassadors since Lebanon's independence since 1943.

The establishment of embassies would be an important move for a Syrian recognition of Lebanon's sovereignty.

"Relations with Syria are normal. There is no need to normalise them," Sulaiman told reporters.

Asked, however, if the two countries would normalise relations and open embassies in the coming days, Sulaiman told reporters: "Certainly", but did not elaborate.

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