DAMASCUS (AFP) — Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has issued a decree to open full diplomatic ties with Lebanon for the first time since independence 60 years ago, the official SANA news agency said on Tuesday.
The decree calls for "the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Syrian Arab Republic and the Lebanese republic and the creation of a diplomatic mission at ambassador level in the Lebanese capital Beirut."
On August 13, the two states announced their intention to open diplomatic ties for the first time since independence from France, following a pledge made by Assad and Lebanese President Michel Sleiman in Paris in July.
In Beirut, a foreign ministry official said Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh would head to Damascus on Wednesday to discuss details of the launch of ties.
"We expect to issue a statement setting the date and time as well as other details," the official told AFP.
Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora welcomed the announcement.
"Progress being made in terms of bilateral relations between Lebanon and Syria ... is a historic step forward on the road to affirm and solidify Lebanon's independence, sovereignty and free decision-making," Siniora said in a statement.
He added that he hoped the move was "a prelude to a new page (in relations) that will benefit both Lebanon and Syria, having learned from lessons and experiences of the past."
Reacting to the news in comments to the BBC, Druze community leader and long-time anti-Syrian MP Walid Jumblatt characterised it as "a positive development and the beginning of a long path toward building a healthy relationship with Syria, step by step."
For his part, Labour Minister and Hezbollah official Mohammed Fneish told AFP the step "is an affirmation of Syria's seriousness in establishing diplomatic ties through exchanging embassies with Lebanon.
"This is a practical measure that embarks upon a new path in Lebanese-Syrian relations. What is required is that this continues in the positive manner in which (Sleiman) began it," added Fneish, whose party is pro-Syrian.
Assad said last month he expected full diplomatic relations between Damascus and Beirut by the end of this year.
The next ambassador to Beirut will face "complicated files such as the cases of missing Syrians and Lebanese, border demarcation and revision of certain accords" between the two states, the official daily Al-Watan said on Tuesday.
Since 1991, a year after the end of Lebanon's 15-year civil war, Damascus and Beirut have been tied by a treaty of friendship and cooperation on political, economic and security issues.
The anti-Syrian camp which forms the majority in Lebanon's parliament has long been critical of the treaty as sacrificing the interests of Beirut to the benefit of Damascus.
On Monday, US President George W. Bush warned Syria that it must respect Lebanon's sovereignty and urged Damascus to open full diplomatic ties with Beirut.
His comments came as Washington closely watched Syrian troop movements near the border with Lebanon, which have raised concerns among anti-Damascus figures in Lebanon.
Members of the anti-Syrian majority in Beirut say Damascus could be setting the stage to return its forces to their country.
But Sleiman issued a statement on Saturday, after contacts with Assad, accepting that the troop movements were aimed at tackling smuggling as stated by Damascus.
And French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner has said the troops "are not threatening anyone".
In September, the Lebanese army revealed the deployment of 10,000 Syrian special forces in the Abbudiya region along the border between Lebanon and Syria.
After three decades of domination, Syria withdrew its troops from Lebanon in 2005 under pressure following the assassination in Beirut of former Lebanese premier Rafiq Hariri.
Damascus has consistently denied charges of involvement in the murder.
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