The French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, told the media on July 9 that the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, kept his promises concerning Lebanon, AFP French agency reported.

In his interview for a French TV channel Sarkozy said that when he resumed talks with Syria after being appointed president, he faced criticism.

"I always think that ignoring Syria in solving problems in Lebanon testifies limited knowledge of the history of both countries," Sarkozy said.

Sarkozy said that the situation in Lebanon is much better than compared to two years earlier when he was appointed president.

"There are no attacks, no explosions. There is the government, the president, an exchange of ambassadors for the first time in the history of Syria and Lebanon," Sarkozy said. 

Sarkozy said that Syrian president al-Assad kept all his promises to ensure stability in Lebanon.

Relations between Syria and France resumed after the establishment of the Mediterranean Council in Paris in July 2008. Sarkozy and al-Assad agreed upon an exchange of diplomatic relations between Syria and Lebanon for the first time since both countries acquired independence after World War II.  

Sarkozy's precursor, Jacques Chirac, froze relations with Damascus after

Lebanese ex-Prime Minister, Rafiq al-Hariri, was assassinated in Beirut. Syrian high-ranking officials are accused of the assassination. But Syria denies all accusations.