Syria, Lebanon formalize diplomatic ties
Syrian FM, Lebanese counterpart sign document announcing start of diplomatic relations. Moallem: Uncovering of terror cells shows that 'source of danger to both countries is one'
The foreign ministers of Syria and Lebanon have signed an agreement formalizing diplomatic ties between the two countries.
The signing comes a day after Syrian President Bashar Assad issued a decree establishing diplomatic relations for the first time with its smaller neighbor. The US and Lebanese politicians opposed to Syria's influence in the country have long demanded Syria recognize Lebanon's sovereignty.
The two countries have not had formal diplomatic relations since both gained independence from France in the 1940s.
The document announcing the start of diplomatic relations was signed in Damascus on Wednesday by Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem and his Lebanese counterpart Fawzi Salloukh.
Moallem said 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 told Lebanon's as-Safir newspaper that 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 Moallem as saying.
Authorities in Syria and Lebanon have accused Islamist militants of carrying out the recent bomb attacks.
Syria says a suicide bomber was behind the Sept. 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 Aug. 13 and Sept. 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.
Syria kept a tight grip on security in Lebanon until 2005 when international pressure triggered by the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri forced Damascus to end a 29-year military presence in the country.
