Damascus, (SANA)-A joint statement announcing the start of the diplomatic relations between Syria and Lebanon as of Wednesday October 15 was signed at the Foreign Ministry.

The statement was signed from the Syrian side by Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem and from the Lebanese side by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Fawzi Salloukh.

The statement renewed both sides' keenness on enhancing and boosting up the relations between them on the basis of mutual respect of each side's sovereignty and independence and maintaining the distinguished fraternal relations between the two sisterly countries to meet the hopes and aspirations of their people.

The signing of the statement comes in implementation of the special announcement issued after the Syrian-Lebanese Summit meeting held between Presidents Bashar al-Assad and Michel Suleiman on 13 August.

A Decrees was issued in Lebanon on September 13 on establishing a Lebanese embassy in Damascus, and a Decree was issued in Syria on October 14 on establishing a Syrian embassy in Beirut.

Ahmad Fathi ZAHRA