国际英语新闻：Hariri's visit to Damascus ends years of bitterness between Lebanon, Syria

BEIRUT, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri ended on Sunday a landmark visit to Damascus, pledging with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to open new prospects on bilateral relations.

    "Syria and Lebanon will not benefit from negative perceptions," said Hariri to reporters at the end of his trip to Syria, adding that "Lebanon should learn from past experience and look positively toward the future in an effort to open new horizons for both countries."

The 39-year-old prime minister's visit to Syria ends nearly five years of bitterness with Damascus. Relations between Hariri and Syria have been edgy since Feb. 14, 2005, when Hariri's father Rafik Hariri, the former Lebanese prime minister was assassinated in Beirut. Syria is suspected of being involved in the killing.

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad (R) walks with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri after a meeting in Damascus December 20, 2009. Hariri said on Sunday he agreed with Assad on practical steps to open up "new horizons" in ties between the two Arab neighbours.

    Hariri's meeting with Assad is seen as an opportunity to change the course of relations between the two neighboring countries. It is also seen as a significant sign of rapprochement between Syria and Saudi Arabia, both of them have been exerting major political influence in Lebanon.