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U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (AP) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 21:27 31/12/2007 Syrian-run media calls on U.S. to launch direct dialogue promptly By The Associated Press Tags: Arlen Specter, Israel, Syria  State-run media in Syria called on the United States on Monday to begin a direct dialogue with Damascus, a day after an influential U.S. lawmaker said Washington could bridge the gap between Israel and Syria. U.S. Senator Arlen Specter held talks with Syrian President Bashar Assad in Damascus on Sunday and said the Arab leader was ready to make peace with Israel but needed Washington's help. The Syrian state-run newspaper Al-Thawra called on the U.S. on Monday to build on the recent Mideast peace conference it sponsored in Annapolis, Maryland, by reaching out directly to Damascus. Advertisement "Washington should be the most daring party to relaunch overt negotiations without hesitation," the paper said. "The U.S. has a big role, which is still the most capable role to push the peace process forward." In 2000, formal U.S.-sponsored Israel-Syria talks neared agreement but broke down over final border and peace arrangements. Syria demands the full return of the Golan Heights, the territory seized by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War. The relationship between the U.S. and Syria deteriorated after the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in a car bombing. Washington pulled its ambassador out of the country over suspected Syrian involvement in the attack, which Damascus denies. The U.S. has also criticized Syria for not doing enough to prevent militants from crossing its border into Iraq - although American officials have said recently that Damascus has stepped up its efforts. The relationship appeared to warm briefly following Syria's agreement to attend the Annapolis conference after the U.S. added the Golan Heights to the agenda. Syria's participation was widely seen as an attempt to gain favor with Washington. But both sides have since lashed out at one another, each accusing the other of meddling in Lebanon, where the Western-backed government is locked in a political standoff with the pro-Syrian opposition. The U.S. also disapproves of Damascus' support for anti-Israel militant groups and alliance with Iran. Two weeks ago, U.S. President George W. Bush rejected dialogue with the Syrian leader, saying his patience ran out on President Assad a long time ago. The Syrian state-run Tishrin newspaper criticized the Bush administration Monday for its persistent stubbornness and provocation, a matter which will lead to more dangers in the region. The paper praised congressman like Specter, a Republican from Pennsylvania, who it said visit Syria contrary to the desires of the U.S. administration to open channels of contact and dialogue with Syria. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, a Rhode Island Democrat, accompanied Specter on his two-day visit to Syria. "During all these visits, the U.S. lawmakers have felt a clear Syrian desire for dialogue and exchange points of view for [the sake of] the region's stability," Tishrin said. France, Syria discuss Lebanon despite Sarkozy vow to freeze ties Meanhile, a top aide to the French president telephoned Syria's foreign minister on Monday, a day after Nicholas Sarkozy announced suspension of diplomatic contacts with Syria over its role in Lebanon. The two sides gave different versions of the conversation, which came as France exerts diplomatic pressure to solve a political crisis in Lebanon pitting the pro-Western government against opposition groups backed by Syria and its ally Iran. The official Syrian news agency said Claude Gueant, Sarkozy's chief of staff, called Walid al-Moualem twice to discuss "reaching a consensus solution that achieves security and stability in Lebanon". Sarkozy's spokesman David Martinon told Reuters the conversation was in line with an announcement by Sarkozy in Cairo ordering his government to halt communication until "Syria gave a token of good faith and a widely backed president was elected in Lebanon." Martinon said Gueant told Moualem that contacts would cease. France has been leading efforts to mediate a settlement between the Lebanese government and the opposition. French officials have also intensified contacts with Syria and Gueant visited Syria twice since November. A European diplomat in Damascus said France became exasperated with Syria's insistence on backing the opposition's demands for key ministries and other powers in a new government under discussion. "The Syrians feel that matters are going their way in Lebanon and that they can afford to wait until their allies obtain what they want," the diplomat said. "Syria has a presidential candidate it could live with and is confident it can push for more." The election has been postponed repeatedly due to differences between divided Lebanese politicians, who have agreed on army chief General Michel Suleiman as a consensus candidate for the presidency, but are still in dispute over how to share power once he is elected. The president in Lebanon is elected by parliament, not popular vote. Syria has played down previous reports of France growing impatient with Damascus over the stalled election. Moualem urged France this month to understand the demands of the opposition and said Syria was using its influence in Lebanon to promote a solution. Damascus regards Lebanon as a strategic neighbour in its struggle with Israel and backs Hezbollah as a force the Jewish state could not defeat on the ground. Syrian forces pulled out from Lebanon after a 29 year presence under pressure following the assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri. France occupied Lebanon and Syria from 1920 to 1946 and has had traditionally links with Lebanon's Christian Maronite sect, whose political privileges were curbed under a 1989 sectarian political deal but retained the presidency. ( Related articles: U.S. Senator says Syria's Assad is ready for peace with Israel U.S. takes harder line on talks between Jerusalem, Damascus Rice: U.S. open to Iran, Syria talks if they change policy Syria says U.S. nuclear claims are 'false,' biased toward Israel Bookmark to del.icio.us Construction freeze PM says no W. Bank construction without his prior approval. Lived to tell the tale Surviving hiker recounts Friday's attack in Hebron Hills.   1.   But PLEASE do the talks before Syrian Gang go to Hague for Hariri 18:01  |  Alan 31/12/07   2.   Dumbya and Sarkozisky are useless 18:19  |  Tosefta-SyrianSpy 31/12/07   3.   #2 Talk is Cheap 00:05  |  GPS 01/01/08   4.   Syria #2 00:34  |  Marc 01/01/08   5.   The counter-attack 02:29  |  Mark Lincoln 01/01/08

Today Online Burston: Here's to '67 borders, the new middle of the road Responses: 22 Rosner: Thursday's choice - Hillary vs. Obana & Edwards Responses: 1 Editorial: Words alone won't stop settlement expansion Send response Shin Bet: Dramatic drop in 2007 terror fatalities Responses: 8 Barak to IDF: Put illegal outpost residents on trial Responses: 28 Hamas signals it would agree to lull in fighting with Israel Responses: 43 Rosner's Domain Race for the White House: Between anger and moderation Rosner's Guest: Evangelicals love Jews as well as Jewish Israel What Will the Palestinian Authority Do With All That Money? Small politics can determine grand policies More Headlines 06:59 Barak to IDF: Put illegal outpost residents on trial 10:04 Hamas signals it would agree to lull in fighting with Israel 10:05 Police suspect Industry, Trade Ministry official received bribe 08:59 Four Palestinian workers die in road accident on way to Israel 06:23 Jewish Agency, interfaith group deal angers U.S. Jewish leaders 04:53 Shin Bet data shows dramatic drop in 2007 terror fatalities 06:14 ILA publishes two tenders to build in Jerusalem over Green Line 00:54 Treasury, faculty make progress under auspices of labor court 10:06 New law set to make long-time temps permanent staff Previous Editions Select Day 31 dec 30 dec 28 dec 27 dec 26 dec 25 dec 24 dec 23 dec 21 dec 20 dec 19 dec 18 dec

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