US congressman holds talks in Damascus

dpa German Press Agency Published: Thursday April 5, 2007

Damascus- United States Congressman Darrell Issa held talks
Thursday with Syrian President Bashar Assad on issues of concern to
both Syria and the United States.
Representative Issa, a Republican from California, also met with
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem.

A statement from the US embassy in Damascus said Issa, a Lebanese-
American and a frequent visitor to the region, "looks forward to
continuing the dialogue with Syria on issues of concern to both
countries."

The talks are the latest in a number of visits by members of the
US Congress to Damascus despite objections by the administration of
President George W Bush, which has rejected direct talks with Syria.

Most prominent of the visitors was US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi,
who met Assad on Wednesday in the Syrian capital.

Following his meeting with Moallem, Issa told reporters that he
had a "constructive" meeting with Assad, adding that discussions
covered many issues.

He said the US Congress members who have recently visited Syria
believe that the dialogue they have begun with Damascus "will go on
continuously and constructively."

"I have no illusions. We have serious problems to be resolved, but
we will resolve them," he said.

He said Pelosi has made clear that the US Congress would continue
to carry out fact-finding and to keep the dialogue open. He stressed
that the dialogue would continue "leading to better understanding."

Asked to comment on Bush's criticism of the congressmen's visits
to Damascus, Issa said: "President Bush is the head of state, but he
hasn't encouraged dialogue. That's an important message to realize:
we have tensions, but we have two functioning embassies."

Congressional Democrats, and some Republicans, say the refusal to
talk to Syria has closed doors to possible progress in resolving the
crises in the Mideast.

Pelosi, the highest-ranking official to visit Syria since
relations began to worsen in 2003, insisted that the "road to
Damascus is a road to peace."

© 2006 - dpa German Press Agency

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