Lebanon appointed an ambassador to Syria on Saturday, the first time the Arab neighbours will have full diplomatic ties since gaining independence from France in the 1940s. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had issued a decree in October to establish diplomatic relations with Lebanon.
Syrian and Lebanese officials have expected ambassadors to be exchanged before the end of 2008. The two sides had announced earlier this year they intended to open diplomatic relations at the highest level. According to Reuters, Lebanon did not formally name the ambassador but political sources said it was Michel Khoury, ambassador to Cyprus.
