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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Syrian flag raised over new embassy in Beirut |
| 2008-12-27 |
| The Syrian flag flew over Damascus' first-ever embassy in Beirut on Friday, as final preparations were made for its official opening after warming ties ended years of tensions between the two neighbors. The work took a comic turn on Friday when an impostor showed up at the building in the Hamra business district, briefly causing a stir by claiming to be the new ambassador. Witnesses told AFP the flag was raised overnight as work continued to prepare the building for the opening before the end of the year. Two brass plaques bearing the inscription "Embassy of the Syrian Arab Republic" in Arabic and English were also put up outside the building, where the mission will operate on the first three floors. An official date for the inauguration has not yet been announced, but the leftist As-Safir Lebanese daily on Monday quoted Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem as saying this would happen "immediately after Christmas." On Monday, three diplomats from Damascus began working at the embassy in advance of the opening. Syria has yet to name an ambassador, and the highest-ranking diplomat is currently a first secretary. |
| Posted by:Fred |