Following Assad's high-profile visit to Paris in July, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner visited Syria last week to prepare for Sarkozy's trip.

One day before Kouchner's journey, Syria appointed its ambassador to France, a post that had been vacant for two years because of the tense ties between the two countries.

Last week, Lebanese President Suleiman called upon world leaders to follow Sarkozy's example in drawing Syria out of isolation, saying the international community must open up to Syria because it plays a fundamental role on the regional level.

However, Washington reasserted last week it was not planning to follow suit, warning that "until Syria plays a positive role in the region, it is going to continue to isolate itself."

(Xinhua News Agency September 3, 2008)