al-Rai al-Aam: Satterfield stresses Syria's role in the region

Assistant of the US Secretary of State, David Satterfield, has stressed Syria's positive role in determining the future of Iraq.

In an interview with Kuwaiti al-Rai al-Aam newspaper published on Thursday, Satterfield welcomed the relations that Syria is building with the Iraqis and with members of the Iraqi Governing Council, asserting that these relations are considered as positive step.

He expressed his country's encouragement to the idea of establishing a free trade zone among Syria, Iraq, Iran and Turkey in the interest of the people's of the region.