Lebanon appointed an ambassador to Syria on Saturday, the first time the Arab neighbours will have full diplomatic relations since gaining independence from France in the 1940s. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had issued a decree in October to establish diplomatic relations with Lebanon, with whom bilateral ties have thawed since the end of a Lebanese political crisis in May.
Syrian and Lebanese officials have expected ambassadors to be exchanged before the end of this year. The two countries had announced earlier this year they intended to open diplomatic relations at the highest level. Lebanon did not formally name the ambassador but political sources said it was Michel Khoury, ambassador to Cyprus.
Damascus has been under Western pressure to take steps viewed as recognition of Lebanon's sovereignty, including opening an embassy in Beirut and demarcating borders with its smaller neighbour. Syria dominated Lebanese politics for three decades until the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri that forced it to end its military presence in the country.
A United Nations investigation has implicated high-level Syrian security officials in Hariri's killing. Syria denies involvement. Syria and Lebanon have never had diplomatic relations and tensions and restrictions on cross-border movement often have strained relations between them. Lebanon has a liaison office in Damascus staffed by a Lebanese diplomat. The two countries signed a "brotherhood" agreement in 1991, which anti-Syrian Lebanese politicians say is tilted in Syria's favour.