Optimism for Improved US-Syria Ties

[TexasLawyer]

Source: Voice of America

Optimism for Improved US-Syria Ties
By Stephanie Ho
Washington
06 May 2007

The Syrian ambassador to the United States has called a meeting between Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice "significant." The two U.S. and Syrian officials met for about 30 minutes last Thursday on the sidelines of an Iraq stabilization conference in Egypt.

Following the highest-level meeting between Syria and the United States in several years, the Syrian ambassador to Washington, Imad Moustapha, told CNN Late Edition he could not give concrete details on the next steps. But he called last week's meeting between the Syrian foreign minister and Secretary Rice "a tipping point," or critical step, in U.S.-Syria bilateral relations.

"The symbolism of the meeting is significant," said Imad Moustapha. "Time and again, we have told the United States that it has to change its attitude toward Syria. Instead of talking past Syria, they have to talk to Syria."

He emphasized that Syria neighbors Iraq, and therefore sees Iraq's stability as a matter of Syrian national security. He said Damascus and Washington have a common interest in wanting to see a stable Iraq, which he added would create the conditions for U.S. troops to eventually leave the country.

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Read more: http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-05-06-voa23.cfm

[Straight Shooter]

1. Well ....*drumming fingers*...... waiting for bush administration to castigate rice like Pelosi was.

[Psephos]

3. lol - it will prolly take as long as it will take us to praise Rice n/t

[Psephos]

2. self-delete (wrong subthread)