SYRIA: U.S Envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell travels to Syria for discussions with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad

Record ID: 279910

  • Title: SYRIA: U.S Envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell travels to Syria for discussions with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad
  • Date: 28th July 2009
  • Summary: DAMASCUS, SYRIA (JULY 26, 2009) (REUTERS) (*** FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ***) VARIOUS OF U.S. ENVOY TO THE MIDDLE EAST GEORGE MITCHELL, ARRIVING TO MEET WITH SYRIAN PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD A PHOTOGRAPHER ASSAD RECEIVING MITCHELL VARIOUS OF THE MEETING BETWEEN ASSAD AND MITCHELL MITCHELL TALKING TO SYRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER WALID AL-MOALLEM AND OTHER SYRIAN OFFICIALS MITCHELL
  • Embargoed: 12th August 2009 13:00
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  • Reuters ID: LVADOR1RZ45ZS4OYU67A85JM57F4
  • Story Text: U.S. Envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday (July 26) in Damascus.
    Mitchell's discussions with Assad focused on the bilateral relations and ways to achieve Arab-Israeli peace.
    Mitchell, who will head to Israel after his visit to Syria, told reporters, following his meeting with Assad, that Obama is determined to facilitate comprehensive peace in the region.
    "I told President al-Assad that President Obama is determined to facilitate a truly comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace. That means peace between Palestinians and Israelis, between Syria and Israel and between Lebanon and Israel and of course ultimately the full normalisation of relations between Israel and all of the states in the region," he said.
    Concerning the Syrian-Israel direction, Mitchell said that the peace process would start by the resumption of negotiations between the two parties.
    "The resumption of negotiations. Comprehensive peace is the only way to guarantee stability, security and prosperity for all of the states in the region," he said.
    This was the second visit Mitchell has made to Syria in a month, reflecting the improvement in the Syrian-American relations.
    Mitchell is also seeking to jump-start negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis, which have been stalled for months over Jewish settlement construction.
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