Khoury Denies Announcing Date for Syrian Counterpart to Assume Duties
Lebanese Ambassador to Damascus Michel Khoury denied Friday reports he had disclosed the date for Syrian counterpart Ali Abdul Karim is to assume his post in Beirut.
Following an earlier meeting with Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh, Khoury was reported as telling journalists Abdul Karim was expected to "assume diplomatic responsibilities in Beirut after May 17."
Khoury later denied giving "any kind of statement" to the media.
"This is (a decision) to be made exclusively by the Syrian authorities," Khoury said in a statement in reference to Abdul Karim”s arrival in Beirut to assume his duties as ambassador.
"Therefore, media reports quoting me after meeting with Salloukh are baseless," he added.
Khoury had allegedly told reporters that Abdul Karim currently remains in Kuwait pending a farewell ceremony.
Khoury briefed Salloukh over his Thursday meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad who accepted his diplomatic credentials. Formal discussions focused on "distinguished and historic" Lebanese-Syrian relations based upon the foundations established by the presidents of both countries, Khoury said.
Last October 15 both Lebanon and Syria agreed to hold diplomatic relations for the first time since their independence from France over 60 years ago.
Bilateral relations witnessed tensions following the 2005 assassination of Lebanon”s ex-premier Rafik Hariri.