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Paris, France: Syria and Lebanon have decided to open embassies in each other's country for the first time in their troubled relations.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy made the announcement on Saturday during a news conference with Syrian President Bashar Al Assad and Lebanese President Michel Sulaiman.
"I would like to say what a historic step forward it is for France that Syrian President Bashar Al Assad is determined to open a diplomatic representation in Lebanon, and that Lebanon should open a diplomatic representation in Syria," Sarkozy said.
Sarkozy initiated fresh rounds of diplomatic talks with Middle East leaders, including Al Assad, Sulaiman and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Saturday ahead of an EU-Mediterranean summit on Sunday.
The gathering has given Assad the chance to hold his first meeting with Sulaiman and, in a diplomatic first, take part in the Mediterranean Union summit alongside Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who flies into Paris on Sunday.
"This is an historic visit for me, an opening towards France and towards Europe," Assad said in an interview with Le Figaro newspaper this week.
However, he said it would be premature to hold direct talks with Israel, apparently ruling out a face-to-face meeting with Olmert.
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