Syria ? Syria formally recognized Lebanon for the first time Tuesday by establishing diplomatic relations with its neighbor – meeting a U.S. demand to do more for regional stability even as Damascus pursues indirect peace talks with Israel.

Lebanon and Syria have not had formal diplomatic ties since both gained independence from France in the 1940s and the move by President Bashar Assad ends six decades of nonrecognition. Both countries announced plans to open embassies by the end of the year.

Lebanon’s Western-backed prime minister, Fuad Saniora, praised the development as a “historic step on the road to confirming Lebanon’s independence, sovereignty and its free decision-making.”

“It is the situation which Lebanon and the Lebanese have long hoped for,” he said.

Relations between the Arab nations have been lopsided since the 1970s, when Syria sent its army into Lebanon and retained control there for nearly 30 years. Ties unraveled when former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was killed in a 2005 car bombing that many Lebanese blame on Syria – a charge Syria denies.