There can be little doubt that Damascus is a major player in the region. It may be a major player, however, for all the wrong reasons. Some would say Syrian support for the Palestinian group Hamas, its backing for Hezbollah in Lebanon and its close links with Iran are some of those reasons. This trio made Syria a pariah in the eyes of the Bush administration, which cut virtually all ties with the country. Under President Barack Obama, Washington now views Damascus not as an obstacle to peace but a party that can bring peace to the region.

The visit by Obama’s Middle East envoy George Mitchell who is currently in Damascus for talks with Syrian President Bashar Assad is not expected to produce a breakthrough but it is encouraging. The atmosphere of hostility, which dominated during the Bush administration seems to be a thing of the past. Washington might still be a long way away from getting Damascus on its side, but for now at least, the Syrian-US relationship has become less tense and perhaps a bit more friendly. Examples are abundant. Last month, Mitchell became the highest-level US official to visit Damascus since 2005, and Washington recently confirmed it will send an ambassador to Damascus, ending a four-year diplomatic absence. Four delegations of high-level US officials, including a military group, have visited Damascus over the last few months.

For their part, the Syrians have been introducing new ideas concerning Middle East peace. They say Turkey should continue to mediate between them and Israel. More importantly, Damascus wants Hezbollah and Hamas to take part in negotiations if and when they resume in Ankara. Syria wants a peace that leads to Israel's withdrawal from all Arab occupied territories and not Syria's alone, making clear that the peace it seeks should be in keeping with the Arab peace initiative.

To be sure, all is not rosy. Despite the diplomatic overtures, the Obama administration renewed the Bush-era economic sanctions against Syria in May as a way to keep pressure on the country to cooperate. At question is the value of the relief of economic sanctions. While US sanctions have taken a political and economic toll on the country, and a lifting of sanctions would mean many new business deals, the main thing wanted by Syria is the return of the Golan Heights — occupied by Israel since 1967. However, with a far-right government in Israel, the question of whether there will be a full withdrawal from the Golan is open. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his country is willing to negotiate with Syria without preconditions, but the Syrians are rightfully wary of such overtures. After all, it is a matter of record that successive Israeli governments have, since 1993, promised full withdrawal from the Golan, all the way to the borders of June 4, 1967. Still, this standoff on the Golan has a bigger chance of being resolved than any other in the Middle East, and many believe that Syria and Israel at peace could lead to peace between the Palestinians and Israel.

The latest US diplomatic outreach to a country deemed by Washington a state sponsor of terrorism should not be underestimated. The United States is now talking directly to a country once isolated by the Bush administration. Washington is listening directly to them and not dictating any policies. The US has always recognized Syria's important role in the region. Washington is now trying to make sure the role is a constructive one.