DAMASCUS, Syria, April 16 (UPI) -- Efforts by researchers and academics to address the challenges of improving Syrian and Lebanese relations speak of common ties, the Syrian president said.
Syrian Vice President Najah al-Attar kicked off a five-day summit Tuesday at the al-Sham Hotel in downtown Damascus featuring more than 100 Lebanese and Syrian researchers examining common ties between the two Arab neighbors.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad praised the developments of the summit Thursday, saying he hoped the delegation could find ways to abolish any outstanding virulence between two Arab neighbors, the official Syrian Arab News Agency reports.
Relations between Beirut and Damascus have improved following the departure of Syrian troops in the aftermath of the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
Lebanon opened its embassy in Damascus in March following international pressure on Syria to respect the sovereignty of its southern neighbor. Syria had opened its Beirut embassy in December.
The exchange was the first such diplomatic move since both countries gained independence from France.
