DAMASCUS: Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said yesterday that he had held “positive” talks with his US counterpart Condoleezza Rice despite renewed criticism from Washington of his country’s policies.
Muallem told the Dubai-based satellite channel Al-Arabiya that the meeting in New York on Friday was “positive and marked the start of an upcoming dialogue.”
He said the US secretary of state had “voiced optimism about regional developments,” particularly the resolution of the longstanding deadlock between pro and anti-Damascus factions in Syria’s smaller neighbor Lebanon. He said she also expressed hope that indirect contacts between Syria and Israel on resuming peace talks would continue and said Washington was “prepared to have an input” in them.
Syria has held four rounds of preliminary contacts with Israel through Turkish mediators since May. A fifth round was postponed at Israeli request earlier this month.
