France's Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner on Monday offered French help to Syria and Lebanon on thorny issues linked to their resolve to normalise ties for the first time since independence 60 years ago.
Kouchner, whose government currently holds the European Union's rotating presidency, arrived in Damascus after talks in Beirut earlier in the day with Lebanese President Michel Sleiman and other officials.
Syria and Lebanon announced on August 13 their intention to establish diplomatic ties, following up on a pledge made by Sleiman and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Paris in July.
"We played an important role... in establishing diplomatic relations between Syria and Lebanon," Kouchner told reporters in Beirut before going to Damascus.
France is willing to help resolve other problems between Lebanon and Syria, such as border demarcation and determining the fate of hundreds of Lebanese missing since the 1975-1990 civil war, he added.
"We can help in solving them, not by interfering but at the request of both countries."
The French diplomat said he would convey to Assad "all (he) heard about the hopes, difficulties and wishes of all the Lebanese to live in an independent, democratic and sovereign Lebanon."
In Damascus, Kouchner held talks with Assad aimed at preparing a visit to Syria French President Nicolas Sarkozy on September 3-4, the first by a French leader since former president Jacques Chirac in 2002.
Chirac severed ties with Syria in response to the February 2005 assassination of Lebanon's former premier Rafiq Hariri, after accusing Damascus of involvement in the murder. Syria has denied the claims.
Washington continues to blacklist Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism but France has moved to bring Assad out of the diplomatic cold.
Kouchner's visit comes a day after Syria's official media announced that Assad had appointed Lamia Shakkour as ambassador to France filling a post vacant for 18 months.
Kouchner later told a joint news conference with his Syrian counterpart Walid al-Muallem that Damascus and Beirut would exchange ambassadors before the end of the year.
"I have noted the goodwill in continuing this process by setting a date for an exchange of ambassadors, which will be before the end of the year. I'm happy about that," he said.
Muallem said he was glad relations between Syria and France were "returning to normal."
Assad, meanwhile, met visiting Lebanese Sports Minister Talal Arslan earlier on Monday, the official SANA news agency said.
"Syria will continue to place itself at the side of Lebanon and its national and Arabic politics. It will support all the decisions the Lebanese have taken for the stability and the prosperity" of the country, Assad told him.
SANA said Assad and Arslan reviewed relations since Sleiman visited Damascus on August 13 and 14, when the decision to establish diplomatic ties was taken.
While in Beirut Kouchner played down the significance of a mounting war of words between Israel and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, but acknowledged the region was tense.
Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah vowed on Sunday to destroy Israel if it carries out threats to attack Lebanon.
He was responding to Israeli warnings that Lebanon's civilian infrastructure could become a legitimate target following the formation of a unity government in which the Hezbollah-led opposition has 11 ministries and the power of veto over cabinet decisions.
"One must always take threats seriously, both those made by Israel and by Mr. Nasrallah... because this is a very inflammatory region," Kouchner said after meeting Sleiman.
Source: AFP Global Edition
