Born c. 1931, Khoury is a Syrian novelist and poet who is also the granddaughter of former Syrian Prime Minister Faris al-Khoury.

In 2008, Khoury was appointed literary adviser to the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

According to Al-Markazia, president Assad will confirm Khoury's appointment to French President Nicolas Sarkozy who will be visiting Syria Tuesday to follow up on the diplomatic exchange between Lebanon and Syria.

Shawki el Shammat, First Secretary of the Syrian embassy relocated to Lebanon on Dec 22 , 2008 and is the current temporary head of the Syrian mission.

On 26 December, 2008 the Syrian flag was raised for the first time at the Syrian embassy which is located in Hamra district in west Beirut, in the same building that houses the Syrian Lebanese Commercial Bank

Michel Khoury was reportedly chosen as the first ever Lebanese ambassador to Syria. Lebanon would only make this information public after Syria officially approves his accreditation. This could take up to 40 days according to the Vienna Convention which governs diplomatic relations worldwide. Khoury is currently the Lebanese ambassador in Cyprus

If Michel Khoury is confirmed , then both countries will each have a Khoury as an ambassador

Previous reports quoting diplomatic sources stated that Syria's first ever ambassador to Lebanon will be Makram Obeid, its current ambassador to Spain.

Tags: Diplomatic relations, Lebanon, Maronites, source: Al-Markazia, Syria, Ya Libnan