Fuad Siniora, the Lebanese pime minister, has urged Syria to establish formal diplomatic ties with his country and to demarcate their borders. In an address on Friday to the UN Security Council following a visit to Washington, Siniora said a positive response on these issues would signal that Syria "is beginning to accept the idea that good (bilateral) relations are possible." He stressed the need "to restore confidence between the two countries" and for "a genuine acceptance by the Syrian government of a truly independent Lebanon."Syria withdrew its troops from Lebanon in 2005 after 29 years of military and political domination of its smaller neighbour, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1559 passed the previous year. Siniora also made it clear that an Israeli withdrawal from the disputed Shebaa Farms, which Beirut regards as Lebanese territory, was a "priority national issue."
"It is incumbent upon Israel to withdraw from it, hand over the Lebanese detainees in its prisons, submit the maps of the landmines it left in the South, and stop its infringements on Lebanese sovereignty," he said. "We look forward for an active role by the UN in helping us achieve those demands," he added.