Albright summons Syrian ambassador in Washington
Syria-USA, Politics, 2/15/1999

Monte Carlo radio correspondent in Washington said on Saturday that US - Syrian relations had entered a "critical stage" that may lead to more deterioration between the two countries due to an article written by Syrian Defense Minister Mustafa Tlass in the Syrian weekly Tishreen al-Osboei, in which he described the men who broke recently into the US embassy in Damascus as "brave" and that they had a "slap to the US."

The correspondent said that on last Thursday, US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright summoned the Syrian ambassador in Washington, Walid al-Mu'allim, and informed him of the strong US objection to Tlass' position.

US sources, the radio said, asked for an apology and a quick Syrian explanation for Tlass' statements and said that if such an explanation did not come within days it will withdraw the US ambassador from Damascus.

It is expected, however, that this issue will be discussed during the periodical meeting to be held by the US ambassadors accredited to the Middle East in Washington at the end of this month.

The US sources, the radio added, said that ambassador al-Mu'allim told Albright that what Tlass had written does not express Syria's official stand toward the incident of breaking into the US embassy. The Syrian ambassador asserted that President Hafez al-Assad, Vice President Abdul Halim Khaddam and the Syrian foreign minister are the ones who officially talk on behalf of Syria.

The correspondent indicated that US-Syrian relations started to deteriorate following the breaking into the US embassy in Damascus.

Previous Stories:
  Tlass comments on US reaction to statements he made to Tishreen al-Osbo'   (2/15/1999)
  Diplomatic dialogue continues regarding US embassy in Damascus   (1/4/1999)
  US punishes Syria by refusing to issue tourist visas includes Syrian officials   (12/26/1998)
  On the Damascus demonstration against attacks on Iraq   (12/21/1998)

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