Syria is ready for dialogue with the USA

The Syrian foreign minister Farouk al-Shara announced on Thursday in Beirut that Syria is ready to open a dialogue with the USA on the Middle East during the visit to be held by the US Secretary of State Colin Powell to Damascus.

Al-Shara said in conclusion of his meeting with the Lebanese President Emil Lahoud yesterday in Beirut "we welcome Mr. Powell in Damascus, and he will eventually receive warm hospitality and everything we want to hear from him to convey to us directly in the forms of a dialogue or explanation for what is taking place in the region, and on the ground of declared positions between the two American and Syrian sides."

During a joint press conference with his Lebanese counterpart Jan Obeid, al-Shara added "we will answer these questions with a spirit that does not spring from a state of hostility or meeting demands imposed by others."

Powell, who is expected to arrive in Damascus today ( Friday) will hold talks on Saturday with the Syrian authorities before he will head the same day to Beirut to meet with the Lebanese officials.

Powell's visit to Syria comes after a period of tension in the mid of April between Syria and the US which accuses Syria of seeking to damage the American- British coalition in Iraq.