UK's Miliband to visit Syria next week
British foreign secretary hails 'new approach' by Damascus, which he says may help stabilize region
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband will visit Syria next week, he said Wednesday, hailing a "new approach" by Damascus which he added could help stabilize the region.
Miliband, who hosted talks in London with his Syrian counterpart late last month, notably pointed to a reduction in foreign fighters and arms being funneled into Iraq over the last 16 months.
"I hosted talks with the Syrian foreign minister two weeks ago and he invited me back to Syria. I am pleased to take up the invitation next week," Miliband told reporters.
"I think it is important for us to find ways for Syria to play a constructive role in the future of the Middle East.
"Syria is a secular state in the Middle East. It has the potential to play a stabilizing role in the region," he added.
"In a significant way, there has been an important change in the approach of the Syrian government, notably the historic decision to exchange ambassadors with Lebanon."
He listed four issues which he was discussing with Syria: Cooperation on counter-terrorism; Syria's role in Lebanon; Syria's role in Iraq and Syria's contribution to the Middle East peace process.
"We have been consistently emphasizing the importance of Syrian cooperation on all four of those dossiers," he said.
One example was on the channeling of fighters into Iraq. "The funneling of foreign fighters and arms into Iraq over the last 15-16 months has certainly been curtailed," said Miliband.
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem's talks with Miliband in London on October 27 were clouded by Syrian anger at a deadly US raid on a village near the Iraqi border the day before he arrived.
A joint press conference with him and Miliband was cancelled at the last minute, as Muallem accused the United States of "terrorist aggression" over the attack on the village of Al-Sukkiraya.
The BBC reported that Miliband may also meet President Bashar Assad during his visit to Damascus.
Miliband was speaking at a joint press conference with Afghan Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta.
