DAMASCUS, Syria — Syria formally recognized Lebanon for the first time Tuesday by establishing diplomatic relations with its neighbor — meeting a U.S. demand to do more for regional stability even as Damascus pursues indirect peace talks with Israel.
Lebanon and Syria have not had formal diplomatic ties since both gained independence from France in the 1940s, and the move by President Bashar Assad ends six decades of nonrecognition. Both countries announced plans to open embassies by the end of the year.
Lebanon’s Western-backed prime minister, Fouad Siniora, praised the development as a “historic step on the road to confirming Lebanon’s independence, sovereignty and its free decisionmaking.”
“It is the situation which Lebanon and the Lebanese have long hoped for,” he said.
Relations between the Arab nations have been lopsided since the 1970s, when Syria sent its army into Lebanon and retained control there for nearly 30 years. Ties unraveled when former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was killed in a 2005 car bombing that many Lebanese blamed on Syria — a charge Syria denies.
Hariri’s assassination triggered huge anti-Syrian street protests, and Damascus caved to U.S.-led international pressure and withdrew its tens of thousands of troops from Lebanon a few months after the bombing.
Establishing diplomatic relations remained a pressing demand of the anti-Syrian majority in Lebanon’s parliament, which saw it as a key symbol of recognition of Lebanese sovereignty.
Some observers say Syria is more comfortable dealing with Lebanon now that its ally Hezbollah has gained veto power in a unity government that was formed in July. In May, Lebanon also installed a president sympathetic to Syria.
Just a few months later in August, Lebanon and Syria agreed to establish ties and demarcate their contentious border. That landmark agreement marked a final break in Syria’s longtime dominance over its smaller neighbor.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack welcomed the change. “It is a positive step toward Syria recognizing its full responsibilities, in terms of implementing Security Council resolutions and other international agreements.”
The West is slowly moving away from a policy of isolating Syria, an ally of Iran and Hezbollah that also has provided a home for some radical Palestinian groups. Instead, the West has tried to engage Syria more in Mideast issues. Recognition of Lebanon could help Syrian aspirations to build trust with the West as it pursues indirect talks with Israel, mediated through Turkey.
