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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Mitchell: Syria has 'crucial' role in peace | Mitchell: Syria has 'crucial' role in peace |
| (about 18 hours later) | |
| Washington's Mid-East envoy George Mitchell has said Syria has a "crucial role" in finding a comprehensive peace settlement, during a visit to Damascus. | Washington's Mid-East envoy George Mitchell has said Syria has a "crucial role" in finding a comprehensive peace settlement, during a visit to Damascus. |
| The comments came as he held talks with Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian capital. | The comments came as he held talks with Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian capital. |
| The visit marks a further thaw in relations between the two countries since Mr Obama took power in January. | The visit marks a further thaw in relations between the two countries since Mr Obama took power in January. |
| Correspondents say the US is testing Syria's support for America's stated new drive for peace in the region. | Correspondents say the US is testing Syria's support for America's stated new drive for peace in the region. |
| "Syria has an integral role to play in reaching comprehensive peace," Mr Mitchell said on Saturday. | "Syria has an integral role to play in reaching comprehensive peace," Mr Mitchell said on Saturday. |
| But Mr Mitchell has assured the Lebanese government that securing Syrian co-operation will not come at Beirut's expense. | But Mr Mitchell has assured the Lebanese government that securing Syrian co-operation will not come at Beirut's expense. |
| He arrived in Syria from Beirut, and has already visited Israel, the West Bank, Egypt and Jordan. | He arrived in Syria from Beirut, and has already visited Israel, the West Bank, Egypt and Jordan. |
| Key player | Key player |
| On Friday US military officials held talks with Syrian officials in Damascus, which are thought to have included discussions about neighbouring Iraq, Reuters news agency reported. | On Friday US military officials held talks with Syrian officials in Damascus, which are thought to have included discussions about neighbouring Iraq, Reuters news agency reported. |
| Mr Obama has said he wants to broker a peace deal with Syria and Israel to end decades of regional conflict. | Mr Obama has said he wants to broker a peace deal with Syria and Israel to end decades of regional conflict. |
| Improved relations with the US could mean a lifting of sanctions and many new business deals - something many ordinary Syrians are hoping for. | Improved relations with the US could mean a lifting of sanctions and many new business deals - something many ordinary Syrians are hoping for. |
| FIRST STEP Lina Sinjab, in Damascus The first high-ranking US visit is likely to be followed by many more. | |
| The United States is now talking directly to the country once isolated by the Bush administration. | The United States is now talking directly to the country once isolated by the Bush administration. |
| "We are here to talk directly to the Syrians and hear directly from them on issues of concern and not to dictate them on any policies," said a State Department official travelling with Mr Mitchell. | "We are here to talk directly to the Syrians and hear directly from them on issues of concern and not to dictate them on any policies," said a State Department official travelling with Mr Mitchell. |
| Talking directly to the Syrians does not mean that all the issues will be solved overnight. There are still many areas to work on. | Talking directly to the Syrians does not mean that all the issues will be solved overnight. There are still many areas to work on. |
| The BBC's Lina Sinjab in Damascus says Syria also wants a US ambassador to be appointed after the last ambassador was withdrawn following the assassination of Lebanon's former prime minster Rafiq Hariri. | The BBC's Lina Sinjab in Damascus says Syria also wants a US ambassador to be appointed after the last ambassador was withdrawn following the assassination of Lebanon's former prime minster Rafiq Hariri. |
| She says the Syrian government and people want to see US pressure on the Israelis to deliver long-awaited promises of peace. | She says the Syrian government and people want to see US pressure on the Israelis to deliver long-awaited promises of peace. |
| The Syrians have also promised to reopen an American cultural centre closed after a US raid last year into Syrian territory against suspected al-Qaeda militants. | The Syrians have also promised to reopen an American cultural centre closed after a US raid last year into Syrian territory against suspected al-Qaeda militants. |
| Mr Mitchell's visit comes just a week after President Obama's ground-breaking speech in Cairo, in which he called for a "new beginning" between Muslims and the US, and vowed to pursue aggressively an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. | Mr Mitchell's visit comes just a week after President Obama's ground-breaking speech in Cairo, in which he called for a "new beginning" between Muslims and the US, and vowed to pursue aggressively an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. |