Damascus - Deputy Foreign Minister Dr. Fayssal Mikdad paid a courtesy visit on Monday to the Lebanese Embassy in Damascus on occasion of its opening.
In a press statement, Dr. Mikdad wished the Chargé d'affaires and the embassy staff success in their mission, affirming that opening the embassies in Damascus and Beirut and establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries is a fruit of the Syrian-Lebanese Summit between Presidents Bashar al-Assad and Michel Suleiman, which took place in Damascus in August 2008.
He also hoped that the embassies will bolster direct relations and provide extra services that meet the needs of citizens in both countries, underlining the strong and historic relations between the two countries and the Syrian leadership's commitment to bolstering these relations in various fields.
In turn, Chargé d'affaires of the Lebanese Embassy Rami Murtada thanked the Deputy Minister for his visit, hoping that the embassy's work will be crowned by the arrival of the appointed Lebanese Ambassador to Damascus.
Murtada expressed confidence that the embassy will serve the distinctive fraternal relation between the two countries as established by Presidents al-Assad and Suleiman.
The Lebanese Embassy opened officially on Monday, with the Charge d'affaires hoisting the Lebanese flag over the embassy in Abu Rumana, signaling its opening and its readiness to assume its duties.
The Syrian-Lebanese Summit, which took place on August 13 and 14 2008, issued a joint statement announcing the establishment of diplomatic relations between Syria and Lebanon on the level of ambassadors.
Work in the Syrian Embassy in Beirut began in late 2008, with the Syrian flag hoisted over the embassy on December 25 2008.
By H. Sabbagh / Mazen
© SANA (Syria Arab News Agency) 2009
