Obama is "welcome" in Damascus, Syrian foreign minister says (Roundup)

Jul 12, 2009, 14:38 GMT

Damascus - Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem on Sunday told reporters that US President Barack Obama would be 'welcome' in Damascus.

Speaking alongside his French counterpart, Bernard Kouchner, in the Syrian capital, al-Moallem said he hoped Obama would meet with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Syria soon.

Such a visit would 'send a message that there had been real change in the new US administration's approach,' he said. 'Syria would welcome such a visit.'

His remarks followed an invitation from al-Assad aired on the British television channel Sky News earlier this month.

'We would like to welcome him,' al-Assad said. 'I am very clear about this.' Obama does not give a direct answer when asked if he would accept such an invitation in an interview with Sky News to be aired on Sunday.

'As you know, I'm a believer in engagement and my hope is that we can continue to see progress on that front,' he said, according to an advance transcript.

Two weeks ago, US media reported that Washington was weighing sending a US ambassador to Syria for the first time in four years. Former US president George W Bush recalled his ambassador to Damascus in 2005, following the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri.

'There are aspects of Syrian behaviour that trouble us,' Obama said in his interview with Sky News. 'And, you know, we think that there is a way that Syria can be much more constructive on a whole host of these issues.'

Syria's position on the nuclear programme of its close ally, Iran, was perhaps among the issues Obama had in mind.

Kouchner, speaking to reporters from Damascus on Sunday, admitted that Syria's position on Iran's nuclear programme remained a sticking-point in its relations with France.

'We are not in full agreement on how to handle the Iranian nuclear file, but it was very useful to listen to the Syrian point of view on this matter,' Kouchner said after meeting al-Assad and al-Moallem.

But, he added, 'I was comfortable in my talks with President al-Assad today, and we had fruitful talks. We agree very well on Lebanon.'

Kouchner stressed the importance of the Franco-Syrian relationship, saying he hoped to build on the economic and cultural cooperation between the two countries.

'We have restored the relationship of trust with Syria since President al-Assad's visit to France, and President Nicolas Sarkozy's and my visits to Syria in the summer of 2008,' Kouchner told the Syrian daily newspaper al-Watan.

These improved relations 'must be reflected more on the economic level,' he said.

'Much has already been done,' Kouchner said, citing plans to open an office of the French agency for international development in Syria, a bilateral tax agreement, and efforts to help Syrian companies internationally.

'We helped Syria improve its position in the international markets. You know that companies are interested in working in the Syrian market, and we have established a club for businessmen in order to enhance this dimension of cooperation,' he said.