Tuesday, 3 April 2007US House speaker Nancy Pelosi is due in Syria on Tuesday, becoming the highest-ranking American politician to visit in years, on a mission slammed by the White House as undermining US policy.
The leading Democrat said in Beirut on Monday that her planned visit to Damascus was important, despite the anger it has stirred in the administration of President George W. Bush.
"We think it's a good idea, that's why we're doing it," Pelosi told journalists before leaving for Amman, from where she was to fly to Damascus.
"Our trip to Syria is one that is ... also important to the Iraq Study Group which encourages such diplomacy and engagement," she said in reference to a bipartisan US group that last year recommended engaging US foes Syria and Iran in a bid to calm war-torn Iraq.
"The purpose of this trip is a part of our responsibility for the national security of the United States," Pelosi said.
While the visit has been welcomed in Damascus, which has been keen to renew contacts with Washington, the White House says she risks undermining US-led efforts to isolate Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
"It sends the wrong message to have high-level US officials going there to have photo opportunities that Assad then exploits," spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters in Washington.
"We discourage such trips by high-ranking US officials."
The United States accuses Syria of harbouring terror organisations and backing insurgents in Iraq and says Pelosi's trip undermines US policy.
But Pelosi, a strident Bush opponent, said that three Republican politicians were in Damascus on Sunday and met Assad -- and "I didn't hear the White House speaking about that."
During her visit at the head of a delegation, "we will be talking about the overarching issue, the fight against terrorism and the role that Syria can play to help or to hinder that role," Pelosi said in Lebanon.
The US delegation will also discuss "the role of Syria in supporting Hamas and Hezbollah... We think it's a good idea to establish the facts to hopefully build some confidence between us. We have no illusions but we have great hope."
Washington accuses Damascus of supporting the ruling Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas and Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah, which it labels terrorist movements.
A source at the US embassy in Damascus told AFP that Pelosi and Assad would discuss "issues linked to Syrian-American and regional issues."
Syria's embassy in Washington has hailed Pelosi's proposed trip as "momentous" and expressed hopes it may improve strained relations.
"Mrs Pelosi is welcome in Damascus. There are great hopes of a rebalancing of US policy in the region," Syria's official Tishrin newspaper said on Monday. The United States "knows Syria is open to dialogue with the Americans."
Elias Murad, editor of the ruling party's daily newspaper Al-Baath, called the visit "recognition of Syria's role. It shows there is more than one point of view on dealing with Damascus."
03.04.2007
Bakutoday.net |
Tuesday, 3 April 2007
US
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