http://www.almanar.com.lb/newssite/NewsDetails.aspx?id=53657&language=en
*'Damascus Summit Marks Beginning of New Stage' * Hussein Assi Readers Number : 63 16/08/2008 Minister of Foreign Affairs Fawzi Salloukh declared that the Lebanese-Syrian diplomatic exchange procedures need a period of one to two month at the latest. In an exclusive interview with Al-Manar TV, Salloukh revealed that the Syrian Economy Minister would visit Lebanon soon, carrying out happy news to the agronomists and industrialists, calling on Lebanese politicians to handle the outstanding issues between them and Syria through diplomatic means. Salloukh said Suleiman's visit to Syria was very important, paving the way for a new stage in the history of relations between the two neighbor countries. "The visit broke the ice and removed all obstructions that were blocking communication between brotherly states," Salloukh stressed, adding that the cabinet, in its coming meeting, will take the decision concerning diplomatic exchange. "There has to be a decree to state the establishment of an embassy in Lebanon and in Syria," Salloukh emphasized. Salloukh also noted that Suleiman's visit to Syria "paved the way for further discussions about economic issues between the two countries, and for the Lebanese Economy Minister's visit to Damascus as well." Meanwhile, President Michel Suleiman on Saturday said that the Lebanese-Syrian summit aimed to rebuild the brotherly and honest relations, in order to reach mutual trust between both countries. He considered the common statement a beginning of a new phase, adding that the statement's items could be improved according to the situations and needs, and other issues will be discussed when the right time comes. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
