DAMASCUS -- In just a few short months the evolution of relations between Syria and Lebanon has progressed drastically. Now a Syrian flag flies over an embassy in Beirut, something unmentionable just 12 months ago. On March 15 Lebanon opened its own embassy in Damascus.
Politicians in Beirut and Damascus have in the past volleyed accusations at each other, the former accusing the latter of harboring intentions of absorbing Lebanon back into a 'Greater Syria.' In return, Syria was (and remains) fearful of America's influence in the tiny country, using Lebanon as a base from where to expand its control as it has done in the Gulf and continues to do in Iraq. In recent times such noise has diminished.
With the assassination of Rafik Hariri in 2005, the Cedar Revolution, formed to oust the Syrian presence in Lebanon, was foremost in pointing blame at Damascus. Before this, Syrian soldiers were accused of carrying out unwarranted attacks on Lebanese civilians during the Lebanese civil war.
However, the feeling of animosity oozing from Lebanon is lost on Syrians.
In 1976 as violence in Lebanon flared, the Syrian army entered Lebanon – at the request of Christian forces - as an Arab peacekeeping force to help stop fighting. They began pulling out just weeks after Hariri's assassination.
During the 2006 Israeli war on Lebanon Syria took in thousands of Beirutis fleeing shelling, it states it is and will comply with the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.
Last May Syrian laborers, an important undercarriage of Lebanon's economy, were shot, beaten and several killed when violent clashes erupted after pro- and anti-government groups fought for control of Beirut's streets.
Hundreds of Lebanese missing since the civil war when the Syrian army controlled Lebanon's security and dozens of Syrians still being held in Lebanese prisons have added to the strained relations.
In September last year Syria amassed a reported 10,000 troops on the border with northern Lebanon saying it was acting to stop smuggling. Lebanese politicians including Wael Abou Faour feared "Syria wants to promote the idea that there is a serious terrorism threat and al-Qaida's presence in north Lebanon and that it is willing to interfere militarily to solve this problem whenever the occasion arises."
This followed shortly after a bombing in Damascus that killed 17 people and preceded a televised confession by suspects saying the purveyors of the attack were sourced in northern Lebanon.
One can speculate that the poor turnout of state leaders at the Arab summit in Damascus last March forced Syria's hand in seeking better relations with the Arab countries facing it down.
Also perhaps seeing George W. Bush's presidential tenure coming to an end, Damascus saw an opportunity to create a platform for communication.
Earlier this month the presidents of Egypt, Syria and Saudi Arabia met in Riyadh to mend relations damaged in large part because of Syria's hand in Lebanon.
And since a landmark agreement was settled by the Lebanese government and opposition in Doha last May (after fierce clashes that divided Beirut akin to civil war lines), relations between Syria and Lebanon have changed beyond recognition.
With a nod from Damascus, the Hezbollah-led opposition signed up to the accord, and despite difficulties attributed to the buildup of Syrian troops on the border and the Damascus bombing, neither country has looked back.
In November Michel Suleiman visited Damascus as president of Lebanon in a remarkable turn of events (though Suleiman was formerly an army general with links to Syria), and since then diplomats from both countries have exchanged visits.
A visit by Syria's President Bashar Assad to Lebanon has been rumored to take place for several months, something which would represent a huge forward step in understanding by the majority of Lebanese people and the Beirut government itself.
On Sunday Michel Khouri became Lebanon's first ambassador to Syria and is expected to take up his post next month. Damascus opened its own embassy in Beirut last December but has yet to name an ambassador. Earlier this week Walid Muallem, Syria's foreign minister was quoted as saying this would happen "very soon."
With parliamentary elections marked out for June, Lebanese politicians from certain quarters will no doubt ratchet up anti-Syrian and anti-American rhetoric. Furthermore, whatever the tribunal uncovers, already with four senior Syrian military figures in hand, relations between the two are far from cozy.
However, the turnaround that has taken place in recent months was born out of decades of trepidation and gripe; and despite the rhetoric, few in either country have an appetite to go back to that.
Moreover, with support and an understanding from Washington – absent in the previous administration – and with U.S. President Barack Obama "willing to listen," Beirut and Damascus are looking toward a future that hopefully can put the past behind.
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