Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., October 15, 2008 Tishrei 16, 5769 | | Israel Time: 19:17 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Haaretz Toolbar
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 - 14:59 15/10/2008
Lebanon, Syria formalize ties for first time since independence
By News Agencies
Tags: lebanon, syria, Israel news

Syria and Lebanon signed a joint document Wednesday formalizing diplomatic ties between the two countries for the first time in their turbulent history.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem and his Lebanese counterpart Fawzi Salloukh signed the document a day after Syrian President Bashar Assad issued a decree establishing diplomatic relations with its smaller neighbor - a long-standing demand of the West and Lebanese politicians opposed to Syria's influence in the country.

The two countries have not had formal diplomatic relations since both gained independence from France in the 1940s in what many Lebanese saw as Syrian refusal to recognize Lebanese sovereignty.
Advertisement
Moallem told Lebanon's as-Safir newspaper in comments published earlier Wednesday that Syria and Lebanon must cooperate in fighting terrorism, linking the threat faced by both neighbors which have recently been targeted by militants.

He said the uncovering of "terrorist cells" in both countries had shown that "the source of danger to both countries is one."

"There must be cooperation in confronting those terrorists," the Lebanese newspaper quoted him as saying.

Assad's decree to Syria to establish diplomatic relations with its smaller neighbor was a long-standing demand of the West and Lebanese politicians opposed to Damascus' influence in the country.

The two countries have not had formal diplomatic relations since both gained independence from France in the 1940s.

"The foreign ministers ... announce the start of diplomatic relations between the countries as of today," said the document. The two sides pledged to strengthen bilateral relations based on mutual respect for each country's sovereignty and independence.

"We hope that the exchange of diplomatic representation will be a window to bolster bilateral relations,"said Moallem at a joint press conference
following the signing. "We want relations to be on an equal footing," he said, adding that embassies would be set up in Damascus and Beirut before the end of the year.

In August, Lebanon and Syria agreed to establish ties and demarcate their
contentious border. That landmark agreement, which came during an official visit by Lebanon's president to Damascus, and Assad's formal decree Tuesday, also mark a final break in Syria's longtime dominance over its smaller neighbor.

Damascus had controlled Lebanon for 30 years before it was forced to withdraw troops in 2005.

Lebanon's Western-backed prime minister, Fuad Saniora, praised the development Tuesday as an advanced and historic step on the road to confirming Lebanon's independence, sovereignty and its free decision-making.

Some observers think Syria is more comfortable dealing with Lebanon's
government now that its ally Hezbollah has gained veto power in a Lebanese unity government that was formed in July. In May, Lebanon installed a president sympathetic to Syria.

U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack welcomed the development as a positive step but noted that important tasks remain, such as defining the countries' border.

Relations between the two Arab nations have been lopsided in Syria's favor since the 1970s, when Syria sent its army into Lebanon and maintained control there for nearly 30 years. Ties unraveled when former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was killed in a 2005 car bombing that many Lebanese blame on Syria - a charge Syria denies.

After Hariri's assassination, Syria caved to U.S.-led international pressure and withdrew its troops from Lebanon.

Establishing diplomatic relations remained a pressing demand by the
anti-Syrian majority in Lebanon's parliament, which contended that the lack of official ties reflected Syria's refusal to recognize Lebanese sovereignty.

Moallem's call to fight terrorism comes after authorities in both Syria and Lebanon have accused Islamist militants of carrying out the recent bomb attacks in the region.

Syria says a suicide bomber was behind the September 27 Damascus bombing that killed 17 people, while the Lebanese army said on Sunday it had detained Islamist militants who carried out two attacks in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli.

The August 13 and September 29 attacks in Tripoli both targeted the army and killed a total of 22 people, including 15 soldiers.

Assad has warned of a growing threat from militants in northern Lebanon and accused foreign states of supporting them.

Syria has said the car used in the Damascus bombing came from a neighboring Arab state, but has not said which one. Syria's Arab neighbors are Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan
Bookmark to del.icio.us  
 
Seeds of the future
An Israeli biofuel project using Africa's jatropha plant may end Mideast oil power.
PFLP threat
A Palestinian militant group vows to kill MK Lieberman to avenge Acre riots.
  1.   Syria can still influence affairs in Lebanon. 11:05  |  Jean Van Daem 15/10/08
  2.   Spomsors of terror fighting terror in their own lands 11:15  |  Millicent 15/10/08
  3.   and now both support Hezbolla 12:09  |  Avi 15/10/08
  4.   Next step: military treaty. 12:51  |  Dutch Dirk 15/10/08
  5.   Dutch Dirk #4 14:05  |  Scott G 15/10/08
  6.   Obviously a supposed bonus.... 15:15  |  Laura 15/10/08
 Read & React
Obama camp dismisses Jesse Jackson's Israel policy remarks
Responses: 299
IDF troops kill Palestinian fire-bomber near West Bank settlement
Responses: 56
'The war is over,' jailed Fatah activists tell Haaretz journalists
Responses: 40
Editor dashes to Israel to get Brad film for Angelina breastfeeding pics
Responses: 25
Meron Benvenisti: The Acre festival of hatred is underway
Responses: 16


More Headlines
19:09 IDF troops critically wound Palestinian fire-bomber near Ramallah
18:08 Rights group to Mazuz: Probe calls for boycott of Acre Arabs
16:16 TASE shows gains in volatile trading, despite losses in global markets
18:40 Obama camp dismisses Jesse Jackson's Israel policy remarks
16:05 Play the news / Will Israel strike Iran's nuclear sites?
18:44 Welcome to AqsaTube: Hamas' 'jihad audio-visual' Web site
09:38 Australia drops threat to sue Ahmadinejad for inciting against Israel
17:37 Pensioners party, breakaway Justice for the Old faction reunite
08:48 'The war is over,' jailed Fatah activists tell Haaretz journalists
13:33 Rights group: Border Policeman beat settler at West Bank outpost
11:13 Top Livni aide: We'll call early elections if Shas won't join gov't
15:09 Austrian rightist Haider was drunk during fatal car crash, says successor
15:54 Turkish Airlines passengers overpower drunk 'hijacker' in mid-air
12:13 Boy, 7, crushed to death by boulder in Galilee town
14:59 Lebanon, Syria formalize ties for first time since independence
17:06 Stars, movie lovers head north for International Haifa Film Festival
Previous Editions
Special Offers
Advertisement
Fattal Hotel Chain
Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
Living in Israel Studying in English
Click & Meet our students from all around the world
Dial 013 for your long-distance calls
and get all your money back
US CITIZENS
Vote for real change. Request your ballot today!
Eldan Rent a Car
Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
Jewish Singles Personal Ads
Find the love of your life on JDate.com
Israel's Premier Real Estate Website
www. israel-property.com
Hebrew Summer courses
From $39.95
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