Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., July 22, 2008 Tamuz 19, 5768 | | Israel Time: 21:17 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 17:22 21/07/2008 Syria says determined to forge diplomatic ties with Lebanon By The Associated Press Tags: France, Lebanon, Syria Syria's foreign minister said Monday his country was determined to establish diplomatic relations with Lebanon for the first time since the two neighbors gained independence from France more than 60 years ago. Visiting Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem made the announcement after talks with President Michel Suleiman on relations between the two Arab nations, strained since the 2005 assassination in a car bomb of Lebanon's former prime minister Rafik Hariri, which many Lebanese blame on Syria. Advertisement Al-Moallem's official visit here, the first by a top Syrian official in at least three years, came amid growing calls on Damascus to establish diplomatic relations and demarcate its border with Lebanon, moves that would put the two neighbors on equal footing after decades of Syrian domination of its smaller neighbor. "We are determined to open an embassy and exchange diplomatic representation. But this determination should be shared by the two countries," al-Moallem told reporters after meeting Suleiman at the Presidential Palace in Beirut's suburb of Baada. Talk of embassies marks an important shift in relations between Syria and Lebanon. The U.S.-backed anti-Syrian parliament majority is demanding the demarkation of the Lebanese-Syrian borders and the establishment of diplomatic ties as a guarantee of Syrian recognition of Lebanon as a sovereign nation. Al-Moallem also handed Suleiman an invitation from Syrian President Bashar Assad to visit Damascus. The two presidents agreed on al-Moallem's visit when they met in Paris this month on the sidelines of a Mediterranean summit. Following Hariri's assassination, Syria was forced under U.S.-led international pressure to withdraw its troops from Lebanon, ending nearly three decades of control of Lebanon. Beside blaming Syria for Hariri's death, anti-Syrian factions in Lebanon have also blamed Damascus for a series of assassinations targeting lawmakers and politicians opposed to Syria. Syria has denied involvement in any of these killings, including that of Hariri. Syria and Lebanon have not had full-fledged embassies in each other's capitals since Lebanon became independent in 1943 and Syria in 1945. Assad has said that establishing diplomatic ties with Lebanon would be possible if a national unity government was formed in Beirut, bringing together the anti-Syrian parliamentary majority and the opposition led by Syrian ally Hezbollah. After weeks of haggling, a unity government was formed July 11 in line with an Arab-brokered agreement reached in May that ended an 18-month political stalemate that nearly plunged the country into civil war. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Brown's ultimatum British PM to Knesset: Iran must suspend nuclear bid or face global isolation. One giant leap VIDEO: Israeli-developed device allows paraplegics to walk again.   1.   what a neighborhood! 15:18  |  northern neighbor 21/07/08   2.   Tsk tsk northern neighbor 15:38  |  Michael 21/07/08   3.   OF COURSE SYRIA WILL ESTABLISH TIES;THEIR HIZBULLAH MURDERING 16:19  |  glenna 21/07/08   4.   Michael 16:24  |  Natallie Durson 21/07/08   5.   Northern Neighbour - Good Joke 16:26  |  Arie 21/07/08   6.   Nasrallah`s mistake 16:46  |  Anonymous 21/07/08   7.   Michael in Jerusalem 16:49  |  northern neighbor 21/07/08   8.   Arie in BaGolan 18:23  |  northern neighbor 21/07/08   9.   good neighbour-you`re practcally saints 19:28  |  Arie 21/07/08   10.   Pardon me Northern Neighbor 20:07  |  Gil 21/07/08   11.   Diplomatic ties??? Better to forge sovereignity. 20:31  |  Voice of Reason 21/07/08   12.   Gil in Philadelphia 20:31  |  northern neighbor 21/07/08   13.   Recognition of a fiefdom 20:49  |  Jeremy 21/07/08   14.   Syria & Lebanon:An example of Arab Junggle & Islamic Zoo. 21:30  |  Akram Zekaria 21/07/08   15.   Arie, Michael and co. 21:32  |  FreeOne 21/07/08   16.   to FreeOne # 15 22:27  |  dovale 21/07/08   17.   Joining Syria and Lebanon 22:29  |  Anonymous 21/07/08   18.   Thanks for sharing your thoughts Northern Neighbor 22:55  |  Gil 21/07/08   19.   Voice of Reason 00:43  |  ClearCut 22/07/08   20.   dovale 01:15  |  FreeOne 22/07/08   21.   Thanks for your honesty GIL 01:26  |  FreeOne 22/07/08

Read & React Israel fears scathing U.S. report on its West Bank policies Responses: 166 Fearing Haredi ire, Knesset choir bans women singers at Brown session Responses: 94 Israeli officials: U.S. intervention in minor Palestinian issues may damage ties Responses: 87 'Olmert vowed to keep Jerusalem whole, but that's not why I helped' Responses: 30 Moshe Arens: Israel's margin of error is disappearing Responses: 23 Rosner's Domain Will Lebanon pay the price for the prisoner swap deal? What will Obama look for in Jerusalem (and Ramallah)? If Israel attacks Iran, 42% of Americans say U.S. should help (WTR) Why does Israel keep agreeing to prisoner swaps? More Headlines 20:07 Bulldozer driver goes on rampage in Jerusalem, apparent copycat of recent deadly attack 20:08 Rampaging bulldozer driver 'missed pedestrian's head by inches' 20:27 Barak lauds civilian, cop who killed bulldozer attacker 'quickly' 20:46 Tel Aviv rally in honor of Gilad Shalit draws hundreds 20:40 Obama aims for breakthrough in Mideast peace talks if elected 20:06 Morris Talansky: I arranged cash payments to Yitzhak Rabin 20:35 'Exodus' passenger makes aliyah 6 decades after being turned away 20:20 Shin Bet chief warned of copycat terrorists 3 hours before Jerusalem attack 16:04 Bradley Burston/ Ten Mideast traps for Barack Obama to avoid 16:59 Abbas warns: PA forces to be pulled out of West Bank if IDF raids persist 12:23 There's only one Katie Couric - and now she's in Israel 18:58 Soldier filmed shooting bound Palestinian released from detention 18:55 Israel fears scathing U.S. report on its West Bank policies 20:44 Israeli innovation helps chopper pilots see in worst conditions Previous Editions Select Day 21 jul 20 jul 18 jul 17 jul 16 jul 15 jul 14 jul 13 jul 11 jul 10 jul 09 jul 08 jul

Special Offers Advertisement Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. Israel's Premier Real Estate Website www. israel-property.com Dan Hotels Israel Live the Legend & experience an Unforgettable Summer Vacation Yossi Avrahami Presents: New Luxurious Projects in North Tel Aviv & Eilat Holyland Park Jerusalem Apartment Tower World Class Luxury Your vacation starts here Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved