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Article: Syria, Lebanon formalize diplomatic ties
- Article from:
- AP Worldstream
- Article date:
- October 15, 2008
- Author:
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The foreign ministers of Syria and Lebanon signed a document Wednesday formalizing diplomatic ties between the two countries for the first time in their turbulent history.
The signing comes 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 an arrangement that many Lebanese viewed as a result of Syria's refusal to recognize Lebanese sovereignty.
Recognition of Lebanon could help ...