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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Analysis: High stakes, high anxiety: Campaigning in Lebanon |
| 2009-03-17 |
| A Lebanese parliamentarian praised the opening of his county's first-ever embassy in Syria on Monday but warned that much remained to be done to improve bilateral relations between the two countries. Monday's move sealed the establishment of full diplomatic relations between the two countries for the first time since they gained independence from France in the 1940s. Syria, which has dominated its small neighbor for nearly three decades, opened an embassy in Beirut in December. "Lebanon's independence and sovereignty are reaffirmed by this symbolic and yet practical action," the parliamentarian, who asked to remain anonymous, told .The Jerusalem Post. on Monday. "It's a major step on the way to implementing diplomatic relations and implementing the long-standing request of the Lebanese wishing to reinforce independence and sovereignty of Lebanon vis-Ã -vis Syria." But, the parliamentarian added, "it's a process" that does not end with the opening of mutual embassies. The relationship was still "marred by a number of outstanding issues," including the disappearance of hundreds of Lebanese citizens inside Syria whose fate is still not known, he said. In addition, he said a number of agreements that have been previously signed between Lebanon and Syria that should be revised or even annulled as the two countries embark on a new era of diplomatic relations, particularly the Lebanon-Syria Treaty of Brotherhood, Cooperation and Coordination Agreement. |
| Posted by:Fred |