WASHINGTON - The United States on Wednesday renewed its call for Syria to establish an embassy in Lebanon as a sign of normalizing relations after the promised withdrawal of Syrian forces later this month.
"We have always urged Syria to recognize Lebanon as a separate and independent state and to establish an embassy there," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher told reporters.
He spoke after UN envoy Terje Roed-Larsen said in Beirut that he hoped Lebanon and Syria would "shortly" establish "normal diplomatic relations ... and that this will lead to the establishment of embassies."
Under pressure from the United States, France and other countries, Damascus has agreed to end its military and intelligence presence in Lebanon by the end of this month.
A State Department official, who asked not to be named, said the move to establish an embassy would be a "symbolically important step" in underscoring Lebanon's sovereignty.
He said it would reverse the notion that Syria has tried to cultivate for three decades that Lebanon was a sort of protectorate that did not require an embassy.
04/06/2005 18:26 GMT