Open dialogue between Damascus and Washington

Syrian diplomatic sources said that Damascus and Washington started a quiet dialogue regarding removing Syria from the U.S. list of countries supporting terrorism, which is issued during the first quarter of each year.

Sources said former U.S. ambassador in Damascus Christopher Ross had been assigned the position of head of the Department of Terrorism in the U.S. Department of State. He is going to assume his new position next month. Syrian officials have strong relations and great confidence in the former U.S. Ambassador to play a strong role in this concern, Ross started his work in Syria during September 1992.

Those sources ruled out the possibility that this dialogue would lead to positive results in a short time. They added that the idea of having a dialogue is enough in itself on the long term.

The Syrian leadership did not acknowledge the legitimacy of the U.S. list as it contradicts with the rights of the peoples to resist the occupier. While the U.S. administration had put a condition to expel the leaders of the Palestinian organizations from Damascus before the start of any dialogue over terrorism.