Syria's foreign minister said Monday his country was determined to establish diplomatic relations with Lebanon for the first time since the two neighbors gained independence from France more than 60 years ago. Walid Al-Moallem made the announcement after talks in Beirut with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman. It was the first official visit to Lebanon by a top Syrian figure in at least three years. Relations between the two Arab nations have been lopsided since the 1970s, when Syria sent its army into Lebanon and retained control there for nearly 30 years. But ties unraveled when former Lebanese premier Rafiq Hariri was killed in a 2005 car bombing that many Lebanese blame on Syria. After Hariri's assassination, Syria caved to US-led international pressure and withdrew its troops from Lebanon after nearly three decades of domination. Al-Moallem's visit to Lebanon came amid calls on Damascus to establish diplomatic relations and demarcate its border with Lebanon – moves that would put the two neighbors on equal footing for the first time. The anti-Syrian majority in Lebanon's parliament has pushed for such action to guarantee Syria's recognition of Lebanon as a sovereign nation. The Western-backed bloc blames Syria for Hariri's death and a series of assassinations targeting lawmakers and politicians opposed to Syrian influence. Syria denies involvement in any of the killings, including Hariri's. “We are determined to open an embassy and exchange diplomatic representation. But this determination should be shared by the two countries,” Al-Moallem told reporters after meeting Suleiman at his office in suburban Beirut.
