Report: Syria Ready To Cooperate With Obama

[babylonsister]

Syria's Assad ready to cooperate with Obama: report
Sun Jan 18, 2009 1:19am EST


BERLIN (Reuters) - Syria is ready to cooperate with U.S. President-elect Barack Obama and wants him to get seriously involved in the Middle East peace process, President Bashar al-Assad told a German magazine.

In an interview with Der Spiegel released on Saturday, Assad also expressed some caution about future relations and said he preferred to talk about hopes rather than expectations.

Ties between the West and Syria have been strained by U.S. accusations that Syria turned a blind eye to Islamist fighters infiltrating Iraq and in 2004 Washington imposed sanctions on Syria for backing anti-American groups in the region.

Syria has, however, regained a degree of approval in Europe after supporting a peace pact for Lebanon and forging diplomatic ties with its neighbor after years of dominating it.

Asked if he expected cooperation to be easier with Obama, Assad said:

"I would talk more about hope than expectation. The Bush government has bestowed two wars on us. The world situation has deteriorated in the last eight years in every way, everything has got worse, including economic developments."

"The new U.S. government must get seriously involved in the peace process. We must help, together with the Europeans."

more...

http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE50G1Q120090118?feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNews

[Parche]

1. thats why we have Hillary

i bet she goes to the middle east soon

we can now start the peace process...:hi:

[babylonsister]

3. Yes, I hope she's packed!

The time has come. :hi:

[Recursion]

4. Madame Secretary is going to do wonders

I think if anyone had any doubts about her political acumen or diplomatic skill, they will be erased in the next few months.

[ClarkUSA]

5. Rather, President Obama will direct her on what he wants done and she'll implement his policies.

It will be the Obama Doctrine from here on in: diplomacy without pre-conditions.

[SoCalDem]

8. EXACTLY.. Haffez Assad is an intelligent man, he was just waiting for an equal

someone he could negotiate with in good faith..not a charlatan/hack/blowhard:)

[spanone]

2. c h a n g e

[Happyhippychick]

6. Wow. This is incredible. I am loving having Hillary as SOS.

[SoCalDem]

7. Syria was HELPING us right after 911, as was Iran

and Georgie pissed it all away

[Aristus]

10. There were candlelight vigils in Tehran in honor of the dead of September 11th.

And a strong denunciation of the attack.

The Iran haters forget that. All they want is big explosions and lots and lots of dead bodies...

[cynatnite]

9. I forgot what it's like to have respect from the world

:cry:

[babylonsister]

11. I think your memory is about to be jogged in a very good way. nt

[Number23]

12. Magnificent. What a wonderful, wonderful start.

:applause: