It was a historical visit to Damascus by Lebanese President Michel Sleiman when two countries have agreed to establish a diplomatic relation since their independence from French colonial power about 60 years ago.

 

It has been considered as a landmark decision by two countries as it will help to safeguard their interests and develop amiable relation between two countries. Sleiman and his Syrian counterpart Bashar al –Ashad decided that relations should be at ambassadorial level. “The two Presidents decided to establish diplomatic relations at the level of ambassadors, in line with the treaty of the United Nations and international law,” the statement said.

 

The primary talks discussed among Assad and Sleiman were the questions of the border between the two countries, and the people who went missing in Syria and Lebanon. It has been reported that the atmosphere during the discussion as “positive and very constructive”.

 

Washington admired the decision and said that the agreement would prove to be a very good step, if Syria proceeds to set the border between the two countries and respect Lebanon’s sovereignty in other ways.

 

Relations between Syria and Lebanon have been injured since the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri in 2005. Syria was blamed for the killing and forced to withdraw its troops from Lebanon in April 2005, ending almost three decades of military domination to Lebanon.