Syrian, American officials meet in Houston
Syria-USA, Politics, 5/23/2002

The Israeli daily Jerusalem Post said Wednesday that Syria and American officials, academics, and businessmen started on Monday in Houston a unique meeting that lasted for three days and this meeting was honored by both the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the US state department.

The paper added that the discussions which were invited to by former US ambassador in Damascus Edward Djirdjian, came at a time when the US state department is trying to obstruct a memorandum submitted to the congress that might impose new sanctions on Syria.

The paper added that the organizers of the meeting will exchange views on terrorism, and the Middle East peace process as well as means of deepening economic relations.

The Israeli daily added that the hawks at the US congress and the Pentagon seek to take a tougher position towards Syria but, those who support making a dialogue with Syria, like Djirdjian and former US secretary of state James Baker believe that dialogue is the best way for dealing with Syria.

The paper said that both Baker and the Republican Senator Arlen Specter and also the US assistant secretary general for the near East affairs William Burns and the former Syrian ambassador in Washington Walid al-Mu'allam talked at the meeting's inaugural session.

Previous Stories:
  Al-Assad calls on US to be objective   (5/6/2002)
  A dialogue between Syria, the UN in Damascus, mid June   (5/3/2002)
  Syrian boycott campaign of American merchandise   (4/30/2002)

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