The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Damascus

Syria and Lebanon agreed on Wednesday to start diplomatic ties for the first time since independence about 60 years ago, during a landmark visit to Damascus by Lebanese President Michel Sleiman.

Sleiman and his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad decided that relations should be at ambassadorial level, presidential counsellor for politics Bussaina Shaaban said in a statement at the end of a meeting between the two leaders.

"The two presidents decided to establish diplomatic relations at the level of ambassadors, in line with the treaty of the United Nations and international law," the statement said.

Presidents Assad and Sleiman "instructed their foreign ministries to take the necessary measures in this regard to conform with the laws of the two countries," it added.

Syria and Lebanon have not had diplomatic ties since independence from French colonial power-Lebanon in 1943 and Syria in 1946 -- but Assad and Sleiman agreed to establish relations during talks last month in Paris.