Damascus - Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem on
Sunday told reporters that US President Barack Obama would be
'welcome' in Damascus.
Speaking alongside his French counterpart, Bernard Kouchner, in
the Syrian capital, al-Moallem said he hoped Obama would meet with
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Syria soon.
Such a visit would 'send a message that there had been real change
in the new US administration's approach,' he said. 'Syria would
welcome such a visit.'
His remarks followed an invitation from al-Assad aired on the
British television channel Sky News earlier this month.
'We would like to welcome him,' al-Assad said. 'I am very clear
about this.' Obama does not give a direct answer when asked if he
would accept such an invitation in an interview with Sky News to be
aired on Sunday.
'As you know, I'm a believer in engagement and my hope is that we
can continue to see progress on that front,' he said, according to an
advance transcript.
Two weeks ago, US media reported that Washington was weighing
sending a US ambassador to Syria for the first time in four years.
Former US president George W Bush recalled his ambassador to Damascus
in 2005, following the assassination of former Lebanese prime
minister Rafik Hariri.
'There are aspects of Syrian behaviour that trouble us,' Obama
said in his interview with Sky News. 'And, you know, we think that
there is a way that Syria can be much more constructive on a whole
host of these issues.'
Syria's position on the nuclear programme of its close ally, Iran,
was perhaps among the issues Obama had in mind.
Kouchner, speaking to reporters from Damascus on Sunday, admitted
that Syria's position on Iran's nuclear programme remained a
sticking-point in its relations with France.
'We are not in full agreement on how to handle the Iranian nuclear
file, but it was very useful to listen to the Syrian point of view on
this matter,' Kouchner said after meeting al-Assad and al-Moallem.
But, he added, 'I was comfortable in my talks with President
al-Assad today, and we had fruitful talks. We agree very well on
Lebanon.'
Kouchner stressed the importance of the Franco-Syrian
relationship, saying he hoped to build on the economic and cultural
cooperation between the two countries.
'We have restored the relationship of trust with Syria since
President al-Assad's visit to France, and President Nicolas Sarkozy's
and my visits to Syria in the summer of 2008,' Kouchner told the
Syrian daily newspaper al-Watan.
These improved relations 'must be reflected more on the economic
level,' he said.
'Much has already been done,' Kouchner said, citing plans to open
an office of the French agency for international development in
Syria, a bilateral tax agreement, and efforts to help Syrian
companies internationally.
'We helped Syria improve its position in the international
markets. You know that companies are interested in working in the
Syrian market, and we have established a club for businessmen in
order to enhance this dimension of cooperation,' he said.
USA
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