Obama eyes progress in Syria ties despite 'troubling behavior'

U.S. President Barack Obama has declared hope for progress in relations with Syria, in an interview with Brtain's Sky News television to be broadcast on Sunday.

When asked whether he would accept Syrian President Bashar Assad's invitation to visit Damascus, Obama said: "We've started to see some diplomatic contacts between the United States and Syria."

"There are aspects of Syrian behavior that trouble us and we think that there is a way that Syria can be much more constructive on a whole host of these issues," he added. "But, as you know, I'm a believer in engagement and my hope is that we can continue to see progress on that front."

Assad extended the indirect invitation during his own interview with Sky News earlier this month. ""We would like to welcome him in Syria, definitely. I am very clear about this," said the Syrian president.Asked whether a meeting could take place any time soon, Assad replied: "That depends on him." Smiling, he added: "I will ask you to convey the invitation to him."

Ties between Syria and the United States began to thaw after Obama took office, departing from the isolationist policy of George W. Bush, who put Syria in the "Axis of Evil" along with its three original members Iran, Iraq and North Korea.

The Obama administration last month said that it would reinstate the U.S. ambassador to Damascus, signaling a move toward different relations.

A senior diplomatic source told Haaretz following that declaration that Washington has concluded that including Syria in the peace process is key to the effort to bring about an internal Palestinian reconciliation, without which the chances of progress on the Israeli-Palestinian track are small.

The Americans believe the crisis in Iran has created an opportunity for the United States to draw Syria closer and resume Israel-Syria negotiations, the source added.