France and Germany on Tuesday urged Syria to stop supporting forces that "want to destabilize Lebanon," and said Damascus could enjoy warmer relations with Europe if it helps revive stalled Middle East peace efforts.
The two countries "want Syria no longer to support forces that want to destabilize Lebanon and the region, and to build a relationship of equals with Lebanon," according to a joint statement issued as French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Angela Merkel met. "By changing its stance, Syria can hope to restore the normal relations that it is seeking with the international community, particularly the countries of the European Union," it said.
The statement didn't elaborate on what "normal" relations with European countries might mean for Damascus. |