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Austin Tice: US and Syria open dialogue to find information on missing journalist Austin Tice: US and Syria open dialogue to find information on missing journalist
(35 minutes later)
The US and Syria have entered into rare direct talks concerning the whereabouts of missing American journalist Austin Tice, a US State Department spokesperson told the Guardian on Friday.The US and Syria have entered into rare direct talks concerning the whereabouts of missing American journalist Austin Tice, a US State Department spokesperson told the Guardian on Friday.
The State Department said it has been working both directly with Bashar al-Assad’s government and through Czech intermediaries on Tice’s case.The State Department said it has been working both directly with Bashar al-Assad’s government and through Czech intermediaries on Tice’s case.
“We continue to work through our Czech protecting power in Syria to get information on Austin Tice’s welfare and whereabouts,” the US State Department press office said in a statement to the Guardian on Friday. “We have been in periodic, direct contact with Syrian government officials strictly on consular issues, including the case of Austin Tice.” The press office declined to give further details due to privacy concerns.“We continue to work through our Czech protecting power in Syria to get information on Austin Tice’s welfare and whereabouts,” the US State Department press office said in a statement to the Guardian on Friday. “We have been in periodic, direct contact with Syrian government officials strictly on consular issues, including the case of Austin Tice.” The press office declined to give further details due to privacy concerns.
Tice has been missing since August 2012, when his family said he failed to make it to the Syria-Lebanon border from southern Damascus. The Tice family continues to emphasize their belief that the journalist is alive, despite saying they have not received proof of life for some time.Tice has been missing since August 2012, when his family said he failed to make it to the Syria-Lebanon border from southern Damascus. The Tice family continues to emphasize their belief that the journalist is alive, despite saying they have not received proof of life for some time.
“From the beginning of this ordeal we have asked that the United States and Syrian governments do all they can to locate and safely return Austin to our family,” the Tice family said in a statement on their website on Thursday.“From the beginning of this ordeal we have asked that the United States and Syrian governments do all they can to locate and safely return Austin to our family,” the Tice family said in a statement on their website on Thursday.
“While we are disappointed that Austin has not been seen, we are encouraged by the ongoing discussions between the US and Syria. We hope and pray that their efforts will be successful in locating and safely returning Austin soon.”“While we are disappointed that Austin has not been seen, we are encouraged by the ongoing discussions between the US and Syria. We hope and pray that their efforts will be successful in locating and safely returning Austin soon.”
Official communications between the Syrian and American governments stalled last year when the two countries suspended diplomatic relations.Official communications between the Syrian and American governments stalled last year when the two countries suspended diplomatic relations.
The Czech government has represented US interests in Syria, since the US shuttered its embassy in Damascus in September 2012. The United States closed down Syria’s embassy in Washington in March 2014 and ordered its diplomatic staff to return to Damascus. But in an interview with CBS which aired on Friday, Bashar al-Assad said there is currently no direct communication between the US and Syrian governments. The Czech government has represented US interests in Syria since the US shuttered its embassy in Damascus in September 2012. The United States closed down Syria’s embassy in Washington in March 2014 and ordered its diplomatic staff to return to Damascus. But in an interview with CBS which aired on Friday, Bashar al-Assad said there is currently no direct communication between the US and Syrian governments.
Tice had been working as a freelance journalist in Syria between his second and third year of law school at Georgetown University, when he went missing. Tice had been working as a freelance journalist in Syria between his second and third year of law school at Georgetown University when he went missing.
Before working as a freelance journalist, Tice served as a captain in the US Marine Corps in Iraq and Afghanistan from 2005 to 2009. Originally from Texas, Tice is the eldest of seven children.Before working as a freelance journalist, Tice served as a captain in the US Marine Corps in Iraq and Afghanistan from 2005 to 2009. Originally from Texas, Tice is the eldest of seven children.
Since his disappearance, Tice’s parents have mounted a public campaign for his return, pleading with the American and Syrian governments to work for his recovery. His parents have used social media, including Twitter and Facebook, to encourage supporters to sign petitions and to photograph themselves wearing black blindfolds, in hopes of keeping attention on his case.Since his disappearance, Tice’s parents have mounted a public campaign for his return, pleading with the American and Syrian governments to work for his recovery. His parents have used social media, including Twitter and Facebook, to encourage supporters to sign petitions and to photograph themselves wearing black blindfolds, in hopes of keeping attention on his case.