Syria approves first Lebanese ambassador to Damascus
Syria has approved the nomination of Michel el-Khoury as Lebanon”s first ever ambassador to Damascus, Lebanon”s foreign minister announced on Tuesday.
"I have received a letter from Syria”s interim charge d”affaires in Beirut indicating that Syrian authorities have agreed to Khoury”s nomination as Lebanese ambassador to Syria," Fawzi Salloukh told reporters.
He said Syria has yet to submit the name of its candidate as ambassador to Lebanon.
Khoury, 59, was previously ambassador to The Hague and held top diplomatic posts in several countries including Britain, Brazil, and Mexico.
Syria and Lebanon in October formally established diplomatic ties for the first time since both became independent 60 years ago.
The move turned a page in relations between Lebanon and Syria, which dominated its smaller neighbour for nearly three decades until it pulled its troops out in April 2005.
The withdrawal came two months after the murder in Beirut of Lebanon”s former premier Rafiq Hariri. Damascus was widely blamed for the assassination but has denied any involvement.