Damascus/Istanbul - Syria will for the first time take up diplomatic relations with its neighbour Lebanon, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Thursday at a summit of four nations in Damascus.

The announcement, which was broadcast life on Arabic television, was made after French President Nicolas Sarkozy urged Assad to break the diplomatic silence.

The meeting on current regional conflicts was attended by Sarkozy, who is current president of the European Union and Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, president of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Assad, who headed the meeting in Damascus, is president of the Arab League.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was also in attendance.

Assad did not make any clear statements about the indirect peace talks with Israel, which have been mediated by Turkey.

Recently, Syria's leadership complained about the faltering talks, of which the main topic is the return of the Golan Heights, claimed by Syria and currently occupied by Israel.

Assad intended to re-establish his country's position as a regional power in the Middle East by initiating the summit.

The four leaders also discussed Iran and the conflict in the Sudanese region of Darfur. (dpa)