US, France urge establishment of “full” Lebanon-Syria ties
Washington, 15 June (IranVNC)—The United States and France yesterday issued a joint statement of support for Lebanon in which they called for the establishment of “full” diplomatic relations between Beirut and Damascus.
By: IranVNC
Published: Sunday, June 15, 2008
17:45GMT—1:45PM/EST
US – FRANCE – LEBANON – SYRIA
Washington, 15 June (IranVNC)—The United States and France yesterday issued a joint statement of support for Lebanon in which they called for the establishment of “full” diplomatic relations between Beirut and Damascus.
Issued after talks in Paris between US President George W. Bush and his French counterpart, Nicolas Sarkozy, the statement affirmed “the strong, continued American-French partnership for a peaceful, sovereign, independent, united and democratic Lebanon.”
“In the interest of the good neighborliness we wish to see between Syria and Lebanon based upon respect, equality, security and sovereignty, we consider important the early establishment of full diplomatic relations between them,” the statement said.
Syria ended three decades of military presence in Lebanon in 2005, when its troops withdrew from Lebanon in 2005 after former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri was assassinated.
The statement also called for support for the investigation into Hariri’s assassination and the establishment of a special tribunal to try the perpetrators.
“We urge good faith implementation of all UN Security Council Resolutions on Lebanon and support for the international investigation and establishment of a Special Tribunal,” the statement read.
Source: US Department of State website
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