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UK minister in Damascus meeting UK urges 'positive' Syrian role
(about 4 hours later)
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband is holding talks with the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband has held what he said were positive and constructive talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
The visit, the first to Damascus by a top-level British official since 2001, is part of a tour that includes Israel, the West Bank and Lebanon. Mr Miliband, the most senior British politician to go to Damascus for seven years, said Syria had a key role in encouraging stability in the region.
Mr Miliband told the BBC that Syria had a role to play as a force for stability in the Middle East. But a BBC correspondent said each side's statements do highlight clear divisions over Syria's key ally Iran.
The visit is the latest in a run of exchanges between Syria and European nations aimed at easing tense ties. Mr Miliband will later go on to Lebanon as part of his Mid-East tour.
It comes a month after Mr Miliband met Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem in London for talks. He has already seen Israeli and Palestinian leaders during the first leg in Israel and the West Bank.
'Understanding' The BBC's Wyre Davies in Damascus said few concrete details emerged from the talks, which overran their schedule of one hour by 45 minutes.
Building mutual understanding between the UK and Syria was important, Mr Miliband told the BBC. Syria has a big potential role to play in stability in the Middle East - it can be a force for stability or it can be a force for instability David Miliband
Afterwards Mr Miliband held a joint press conference, with his Syrian counterpart, Walid Muallim, who visited London in September.
Mr Muallim said his country could be a positive link between the west and Tehran - which is accused by some western powers off seeking a nuclear arms capability.
Mr Miliband was more guarded saying that all governments with an interest in regional peace should do what they could to stop nuclear proliferation in the region.
Responsibilities
Earlier in a BBC interview, Mr Miliband said building mutual understanding between the UK and Syria was important.
"Syria has a big potential role to play in stability in the Middle East - it can be a force for stability or it can be a force for instability," he said."Syria has a big potential role to play in stability in the Middle East - it can be a force for stability or it can be a force for instability," he said.
"Over the last 18 months I've been talking with the Syrian foreign minister about her (Syria's) responsibilities in the region, in respect of terrorism, in respect of Iraq, in respect of the Middle East peace process, and we've got the chance now to take those discussions further forward.""Over the last 18 months I've been talking with the Syrian foreign minister about her (Syria's) responsibilities in the region, in respect of terrorism, in respect of Iraq, in respect of the Middle East peace process, and we've got the chance now to take those discussions further forward."
Mr Miliband will meet the Syrian president and other top officials on Tuesday morning, before flying on to Lebanon.
Syria has faced diplomatic isolation since the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005, even though it denies any role in the killing.Syria has faced diplomatic isolation since the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005, even though it denies any role in the killing.
It has also been shunned by the US because of its ties with Iran, the Palestinian group Hamas and the Lebanese Shia political and militant movement Hezbollah.It has also been shunned by the US because of its ties with Iran, the Palestinian group Hamas and the Lebanese Shia political and militant movement Hezbollah.
But European nations, led by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, are now initiating steps to bring Syria back into the international fold, arguing that engagement is the way forward.But European nations, led by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, are now initiating steps to bring Syria back into the international fold, arguing that engagement is the way forward.
On Monday David Milliband visited Israel and the West Bank for talks with top leaders. On Monday, he called on both Israelis and Palestinians to maintain the five-month-old ceasefire in Gaza, following recent outbreaks of violence.
He called on both Israelis and Palestinians to maintain the five-month-old ceasefire in Gaza, following recent outbreaks of violence.