Syrian Reactions to Initial Contacts with Obama Administration
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By Info Web
Published on 04/25/2009
Syrian Reactions to Initial Contacts with Obama Administration: The U.S. has Capitulated to Syria and Iran; The Resistance, Not Obama, has Changed the World
Since the beginning of the Obama administration there have been contacts between the U.S. and Syria, including a handshake between the two countries' foreign ministers at the March 2, 2009Sharm Al-Sheikh conference, [1] visits by several Congressional delegations to Syria, and a meeting between Syrian Ambassador to Washington 'Imad Mustafa and U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Jeffrey Feltman. [2]
At the outset of the dialogue, both sides expressed cautious optimism regarding its chances of success. In an interview for the UAE daily Al-Khaleej, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad said that despite the Obama administration's apparent good intentions, Syria was still waiting to hear clear and precise details about the new U.S. policy. [3] In an interview with the British Gaurdian, Assad said, "We have the impression that this administration will be different, and we have seen the signals. But we have to wait for the reality and the results." [4]
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, stated that it was too early to talk about "the ice melting" between Damascus and Washington, [5] and her deputy assistant, Jeffrey Feltman, said after his February 15, 2009 meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Al-Mu'allem that the U.S. had not yet reached understandings with Syria about all of the outstanding issues. [6] A more optimistic message was conveyed by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman following their meeting with President Assad. Kerry stated that despite the disagreements, there is a chance for genuine cooperation between the two countries on various issues, while Berman expressed hope that the U.S. and Syria would turn over a new leaf in their relations. He added that the policy of isolating Syriahad proved to be ineffective, and that there is need for dialogue with it.
Continue
Since the beginning of the Obama administration there have been contacts between the U.S. and Syria, including a handshake between the two countries' foreign ministers at the March 2, 2009Sharm Al-Sheikh conference, [1] visits by several Congressional delegations to Syria, and a meeting between Syrian Ambassador to Washington 'Imad Mustafa and U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Jeffrey Feltman. [2]
At the outset of the dialogue, both sides expressed cautious optimism regarding its chances of success. In an interview for the UAE daily Al-Khaleej, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad said that despite the Obama administration's apparent good intentions, Syria was still waiting to hear clear and precise details about the new U.S. policy. [3] In an interview with the British Gaurdian, Assad said, "We have the impression that this administration will be different, and we have seen the signals. But we have to wait for the reality and the results." [4]
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, stated that it was too early to talk about "the ice melting" between Damascus and Washington, [5] and her deputy assistant, Jeffrey Feltman, said after his February 15, 2009 meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Al-Mu'allem that the U.S. had not yet reached understandings with Syria about all of the outstanding issues. [6] A more optimistic message was conveyed by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman following their meeting with President Assad. Kerry stated that despite the disagreements, there is a chance for genuine cooperation between the two countries on various issues, while Berman expressed hope that the U.S. and Syria would turn over a new leaf in their relations. He added that the policy of isolating Syriahad proved to be ineffective, and that there is need for dialogue with it.
Continue