Syria, Lebanon formalize diplomatic ties

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
The foreign ministers of Syria and Lebanon have signed a joint document formalizing diplomatic ties between the two countries. The signing comes a day after the Syrian president 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. The joint document announcing the start of diplomatic relations was signed in Damascus on Wednesday by Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem and his Lebanese counterpart Fawzi Salloukh.