While news agencies have been focused on a bombing attack in northern Lebanon, there were separate events unfolding in Damascus that could affect Lebanese and Syrian politics for years to come. On August 14, Lebanese President Michel Suleiman completed a historic two-day visit to Syria, the first by a Lebanese president since Syria withdrew its troops from Lebanon in April 2005. During the visit, Suleiman and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad pledged to work together on four critical issues:
1) The countries agreed to establish full diplomatic relations for the first time since Lebanon and Syria gained independence from France in 1943, though they did not specify when they would exchange ambassadors. This is a significant turn of events considering the countries’ historically troubled relationship.
• Syrian troops entered into Lebanon in 1976, at the beginning of the Lebanese civil war which lasted through 1990;
• The outside forces left the country in 2005 in the face of Lebanese and international pressure following the assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri;
• Following 18 months of political deadlock in Lebanon, fighting broke out in May 2008 between Hezbollah and supporters of the government led by Prime Minister Fouad Siniora;
• On May 21, 2008, Qatari officials, with support of Iranian, Saudi and Syrian representatives, mediated an agreement between the political factions. The agreement included provisions to elect Suleiman as president and to increase the number of cabinet seats to Hezbollah-allied groups, giving them veto power over the newly formed unity government;
• Assad had earlier conditioned diplomatic recognition of Lebanon with the creation of a unity government.
2) The countries also agreed to reactivate a joint committee to demarcate borders. At the same time, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem said the borders of the Shebaa Farms, a contentious area of land captured by Israel in the 1967 war, would not be defined until after Israel withdrew from them.
3) The presidents also pledged to strengthen efforts to determine the status of people who went missing during the 1975-1990 Lebanese civil war. According to rights groups, some 650 people who disappeared during that period are being held in Syria.
4) While the presidents additionally agreed to control “trafficking” along the border, their joint statement did not include reference to weapons, which Lebanon’s parliamentary majority argue are transferred to Hezbollah.
The recent diplomatic activity offers hope for improved Lebanese-Syrian relations. The countries’ past relations, however, belie the notion that there will be a simple and easy route to achieving strengthened ties. But at minimum, the past week’s events give impetus for closer attention.
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