Damascus - Michel al-Khoury, the first Lebanese ambassador to Syria, arrived in Damascus Monday, in a further step toward normal diplomatic relations between the two countries.

"I am very happy to be the representative of my country in Syrian territory," Khoury told the German News Agency dpa on Monday. "I am now waiting for an appointment to present my credentials to President Bashar al-Assad."

Representatives of the Syrian Foreign Ministry and Nasri al-Khoury, head of the High Syrian-Lebanese Council, greeted the Lebanese ambassador to Syria at the border.

Lebanon opened its embassy in Damascus in mid-March, but no Syrian officials attended the opening ceremony.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallim subsequently said the absence of Syrian officials was caused by confusion over the date of the opening, and had not been intentional. His deputy, Faisal Miqdad, later visited Lebanon's embassy in Damascus.

Lebanese President Michel Suleiman accepted the credentials of Syria's first ambassador to Lebanon, Ali Abdel-Karim Ali, on March 24.

Syria exercised considerable influence in Lebanon even after Britain and France drew the borders of the countries from the map of the former Ottoman Empire. Syria withdrew its forces from its smaller neighbour in 2005, after 29 years, following the assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri. (dpa)