US congress delegation in Damascus continues what Djerjian had started

The official from the financial assets committee in the US congress Scott Lilly continued in Syria what was started by former US ambassador to Damascus Edward Djerjian in discussions to form better relations and better understanding between the Arab and American sides, but within a narrower angle, namely the Iraqi issue.

The American embassy in Damascus refused to disclose the content of the meetings which will be held by Lilly or names of persons he will meet journalists and economists.

Lilly said in a press statement that the visit of the delegation to the region aims basically at "finding out the sources which can be used to accelerate the process when that day arrives when the Iraqis become able of run their country and that the Americans are concerned to know ways to this effect through the participation of various sides," including Syria.

He added "we are not here to propose anything, rather to hear people and give information." He added "if we listen to the Syrians and get their comments we will have a better way to make better comprehensive policy not only in the region, rather in the world as a whole." In addition to Leli, the American delegation includes the defense committee official at the US congress David Morrison. The delegation had visited Israel and Jordan and it will visit Lebanon today.

Meantime, the Syrian private Abyad and Aswad ( Black and White ) magazine said in an article for the assistant of the Syrian ambassador in Washington Imad Mustafa that the former coordinator of the peace process Dennis Ross, the current director of Washington's Institute for the Near East policies will preside over a high ranking media delegation including the chief editors of Newsweek Fox News, US and World Report and CNN and other senior US media individuals in an explanatory visit to Damascus.