Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., March 02, 2009 Adar 6, 5769 | | Israel Time: 21:33 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Joy of Giving Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 08:30 28/02/2009
U.S.: No normal Syria ties until it stops backing Hamas, Hezbollah
By Natasha Mozgovaya, Haaretz Correspondent, and The Associated Press
Tags: U.S., Israel News 

The United States reiterated on Friday that despite a meeting held by a State Department official with the Syrian envoy to Washington, there will be no normalization of ties with the Damascus regime until it meets key American demands, including an end to "interference in Lebanese issue issue," a State Department spokesman Robert Wood said on Friday.

U.S. and Syrian diplomats met Thursday in an effort to improve strained ties, though Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said it was too soon to say whether relations would improve.

Syria's ambassador to the United States, Imad Moustapha, met for nearly two hours Thursday with Jeffrey Feltman, the State Department's top diplomat for the Middle East. The first such high-level session since September came at the request of the Obama administration, which sought to discuss how to mend the relationship and possibly work together.
Advertisement
Though hesitant to enunciate how the administration's policies towards Syria will differ from that of the Bush administration, Wood stressed that there are certain principles which Washington will not abandon.

"We felt it was important to communicate our concerns directly and we shall see how the Syrians will respond to it, including the interference on Lebanese internal affairs and their support for terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah," said Wood.

It seems that the U.S. was caught off guard upon hearing the news that Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem will take part in the donor conference for the Gaza Strip that is scheduled to take place in Egypt.

Administration officials, however, issued no protests, admitting that Egypt organized the conference and therefore the identity of the participants is at Cairo's discretion. It is unclear whether Clinton will meet with al-Moallem during the conference. Special envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell is not expected to visit Syria anytime soon.

Reacting to Iran's claim that the appointment of Dennis Ross signals the continuity of President Bush's policies, Wood said: "Ross will be working for the U.S. government, not Iran, and it will not be up to Iran to decide who works for it."‬

Moustapha told reporters on Thursday that the talks were "very constructive" and he expected there would be more meetings in the coming months.

"We believe that this meeting has explored possibilities between Syria and the United States to engage on a diplomatic and political level and also to discuss all issues of mutual concern," the ambassador said. "We think this is a first step and we believe there will be many further meetings."

Clinton had described the meeting as routine, and said the administration was committed to engagement in the Middle East and promoting Arab-Israeli peace.

"It is too soon to say what the future holds," she said.

Related articles:
  • Can Israel make peace with Syria without leaving Golan?
  • Syria, U.S. explore improving ties as Sen. Kerry visits
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Spying for Hezbollah
    Israeli Arab is suspected of planning to spy on Israel for the terror group.
    Iran and the bomb
    There are conflicting reports on whether Tehran has enough material for nukes.
      1.   Does the Obama regime think 03:26  |  Nechama 28/02/09
      2.   Bravo OBAMA, I`m glad that we voted for you! 03:49  |  GPS 28/02/09
      3.   hopefully Bibi won`t fall for the lies of assad as obama;one week 04:31  |  glenna 28/02/09
      4.   This is good 04:36  |  Slappy 28/02/09
      5.   Same stupid policy 04:43  |  Yossi want peace now 28/02/09
      6.   No normal ties with the US until it stops backing 05:28  |  Neil 28/02/09
      7.   And the US supports the terrorist state Israel 05:48  |  Marilyn 28/02/09
      8.   "Ross will be working for the US government, not Iran" 06:34  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 28/02/09
      9.   The rule of the Assads is not aimed at improving peace. 08:15  |  Jean Van Daem 28/02/09
      10.   Hizbullah has been steadily rearming with Syrian assistance ... 08:18  |  Jean Van Daem 28/02/09
      11.   Remember how Bibi screwed up in 1997 12:09  |  Marilyn 28/02/09
      12.   Hamas and Hezbullah gained nothing for Syria 15:46  |  Yusuf 28/02/09
      13.   Absolute Sense From Obama 15:58  |  Bill Foonman 28/02/09
      14.   Nothing to change until 16:21  |  Mark Lincoln 28/02/09
      15.   I Hoped For Better 16:35  |  MB 28/02/09
      16.   no normal ties 18:08  |  elliot 28/02/09
      17.   To CJK (#8) 18:33  |  Morris Valentine 28/02/09
      18.   Syria Must Forgo Golan for Peace Sake 00:05  |  Baruch Gold 01/03/09
      19.   Terrorist Organizations 00:14  |  Hamezbollah 01/03/09
     Haaretz Hot Topics
    Israel 2009 election results: Voter breakdown
    Israel goes to the polls
    Conflict in Gaza
    Israel vs. Hamas
    Iran: Nuclear and regional ambitions
    More Headlines
    21:22 Clinton in Israel to listen to Israel's leadership
    18:55 Comptroller: No protection from ongoing Gaza rockets or potential chemical attack
    19:17 Durban 2 draft statement: Israel's Palestinian policy is crime against humanity
    20:27 Sources: Hariri murder tribunal could derail Israel-Syria talks
    19:52 International donors pledge $5.2 billion for Gaza reconstruction
    16:44 Israel dismisses Tehran demand to arrest Israeli 'war criminals'
    15:59 Hillary Clinton, Gaza, and the six-state solution
    17:43 ANALYSIS / Another harsh report shows little has changed for Gaza border residents
    15:15 Barak: As it seems now, Labor won't join Likud government
    18:11 Israel demolishes two Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem
    12:52 Peace Now: Israel planning 73,300 new homes in West Bank
    11:05 Yemeni court fines man $250,000 for fatal shooting of local Jew
    12:25 EU agency: Most European states fail to track anti-Semitism
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Spring Specials-Dan Hotels
    Jerusalem from 179$. Tel-Aviv from 223$. Herzliya from 336$
    Dead Sea Skin Care
    Quality cosmetics from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 12% off!
    Summer in Israel
    Israeli style - Tzofim Chetz V'Keshet 2009
    Passover Vacations
    The BEST Passover Vacations around ? Mexico, Arizona and Florida
    Camp Kimama Israel 2009
    The best place for your children this summer
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
    Jewish Singles Personal Ads
    Find the love of your life on JDate.com
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | | Israel 2009 election results
    Site rules | Makom: Engaging on Israel | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved