Damascus, (SANA)-Following is the text of the Joint Syrian-Lebanese Statement on the establishment of the diplomatic relations between the two countries:

        In implementation of the special announcement on the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Syrian Arab Republic and the Lebanese Republic which was issued after the Summit meeting between His Excellency President Bashar al-Assad and His Excellency President Michel Suleiman in Damascus on 13 August 2008, the Decree No. 268 for 2008 was issued in Lebanon on 13 September 2008 on the setting up of a Lebanese embassy in Syria, and the Decree No. 358 for 2008 was issued in Syria on 14 October 2008 on the setting up of an embassy in Lebanon,
 
      The Foreign Ministers, after signing this joint Statement, announce the start of the diplomatic relations between the two countries in line with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations as of today the 15th of October 2008.

       The two sides reiterate keenness on enhancing and boosting up the Syrian-Lebanese relations on the basis of mutual respect of each side's sovereignty and independence and maintaining the fraternal distinguished ties between the two sisterly countries in a way that meets the hopes and aspirations of the brotherly people in both countries.

Ahmad Fathi ZAHRA