Brussels, 10/11/2008 (Agence Europe) - The Council of the EU has welcomed “the return to normal functioning of the Lebanese institutions” and reaffirmed “its full support for the Lebanese authorities, and in particular President Sleiman and the government led by Prime Minster Siniora”. The resumption of national dialogue, since the Doha Agreement of 21 May, should see progress made on the question of the national defence strategy, say the conclusions adopted on Monday 10 November, which welcome the announcement of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Syria and Lebanon. “That announcement, which should take practical form with the appointment of ambassadors and the opening of the two embassies before the end of the year, constitutes a historic step,” says the Council, encouraging both parties to make progress on the demarcation and monitoring of the common border and the issue of prisoners and disappeared persons. The EU and its member states are willing to lend their support “to the development and the implementation of a Lebanese national border management strategy”. The adoption by the Lebanese parliament of a new electoral law is “a first step towards more comprehensive electoral reform,” ahead of the 2009 legislative elections, for which the EU is willing to consider the deployment of an electoral observation mission. The Council also reaffirms its support for the Commission of Enquiry and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, set up to investigate the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri. (A.B./transl.rt)