West Hails Establishment of Beirut-Damascus Diplomatic Ties, But U.S. Expects More from Syria
The United States on Saturday welcomed the decision by Lebanon and Syria to establish diplomatic relations, while urging Damascus to do more to "end its destabilizing tactics" in the region.
Seeking to end decades of tensions, Syria and Lebanon announced in Paris on Saturday that they would normalize relations and set up diplomatic representations in each other”s countries, according to media reports.
Washington supports the "establishment of good relations between Lebanon and Syria on the basis of mutual respect," local media quoted State Department spokesman Rob McInturff as saying.
He said Syria, which Washington says is destabilizing the region and meddling in Lebanese affairs, should "take concrete actions" to bring its ties with Lebanon to a full normalcy.
He added that Washington would continue to keep its diplomatic relations with Syria at a limited level unless actions were made by Syria to "end its destabilizing tactics in the region."
Syria has denied the U.S. allegations.
The new Lebanese president, Michel Suleiman, and Syria”s president Bashar al-Assad held face-to-face talks in Paris on Friday, presided over by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, media reports said.
Bilateral ties between Syria and Lebanon have been chilled since former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was assassinatedon Feb. 14, 2005, due to disputes over Syria”s alleged involvement in the murder.