Egypt welcomes Syria-Lebanon diplomatic ties

(SomaliNet) Egypt has welcomed the establishment of diplomatic ties between Syria and Lebanon for the first time since independence from French rule.

Ahmed Abul Gheit, Egyptian Foreign Minister on Thursday hailed the move as \"a step in the right direction,\" AFP reports.

\"Egypt is relieved by the announcement of setting up diplomatic relations between these two neighbor states,\" Ahmed Abul Gheit said in a statement.

\"This is a step in the right direction,\" he said, calling on Damascus and Beirut to \"take other steps to consolidate the relationship ... with respect for each other\'s sovereignty.\"

Gheit\'s announcement comes a day after that Syria and Lebanon formally launched diplomatic ties for the first time in 60 years.

Meanwhile, Syria-Lebanon relations have improved since the two countries\' presidents held their first ever face-to-face talks at a Mediterranean summit in July.

At the Paris summit President Suleiman announced that Beirut and Damascus were likely to exchange ambassadors by the end of 2008.

The efforts to normalize ties between the two states are made after years of animosity following the 2005 assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister, Rafiq Hariri in Syria. –Press TV