Syrian president congratulates Lahoud

A phone call was made on Tuesday night by Syrian President Hafez al-Assad to the newly sworn-in Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, who thanked al-Assad for his congratulations on the occasion of the beginning of his presidency.

Lahoud also stressed Lebanon's desire to enhance bilateral relations between the two countries and the Syrian president stressed Syria's support for Lebanon.

Earlier in the day, President al-Assad sent the following cable of congratulations to President Lahoud: "It pleases me on the occasion of taking your constitutional oath and assuming responsibilities of Lebanon to express to you my cordial congratulations over the confidence entrusted in you by the Lebanese Parliament, after you had won the confidence of people in a great majority in opinion polls. I am confident that with the national will and cooperation of sincere people with you, you will realize hopes and your aspirations given to you for presidency, to be an era of new achievements, consolidation of national unity, struggle to liberate the Lebanese territories held by Israel and consolidation of fraternal relations between our two countries."