Syria calls for dialogue to improve strained ties with U.S.

DAMASCUS - America must begin constructive dialogue with Syria to improve strained relations between both countries, a Syrian state-run newspaper said Sunday, adding that the recently re-elected U.S. president, George W. Bush, has the chance to reassess his nation's perceived pro-Israeli policies in the Middle East.

U.S.-Syrian relations have soured in recent months over Washington's claims that Damascus has been doing too little to secure the border to block militants from crossing into Iraq to fight U.S.-led coalition forces.

Washington and the United Nations have also called on Damascus to withdraw thousands of troops from Lebanon based there since the early stages of the 1975-90 civil war.

Al-Baath newspaper, the mouthpiece of Syria's ruling Baath Party, said in a front-page editorial that Syrian-U.S. relations have passed through many tense stages. This, the paper said, was "due to the U.S. administration's disregard of Arab rights and its espousing of a double-standard policy in the region by placating the Israelis and pressuring and intimidating the Arabs."

Yet, the paper said, the chance seems possible now for the Bush administration to reassess its policies by taking into consideration the Arabs' interests and security and not only Israel's interests.

"Syria has always been an advocate of a constructive dialogue and objective relations [with the U.S.] based on mutual respect away from threats and pressures," al-Baath said.

"Only dialogue is capable of solving all outstanding problems and the language of intimidation will be, as in the past, of no avail."

Al-Baath voiced optimism that Bush, after winning his second presidential term, would be "freer from the pressures of conservative powers inside his administration and would care more about U.S. interests and move toward repairing his country's bad relations with many countries, especially Europe and the Arab and Muslim countries."

America last year imposed sanctions on Syria, which is on a U.S. State Department list of state supporters of terrorism.

Syria has refused American demands, such as expelling leaders of Palestinian militant groups, coming clean on its alleged pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and relinquishing its control over Lebanon.