Syria wants dialogue with US without preconditions

Syrian President Bashar Assad said he wants a dialogue with the United States but maintains that there should be no preconditions.

Assad has told Lebanon's Al-Manar TV that the new American administration has already sent officials to Damascus to start a dialogue. He did not name them but says they had visited Syria before.

Assad said in Monday's interview that despite the positive signals from Washington "we have learned to be cautious, as the relations have deteriorated significantly during George W. Bush's term."

Washington pulled its ambassador out of Syria following the 2005 assassination in Beirut of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

In the interview Assad praised "Hamas' achievements" in the recent war with Israel, saying "the resistance won in Gaza; it was another victory that followed the one in 2006 (Second Lebanon War). Israel only understands the language of force."

Addressing the Arab peace initiative and the nearing elections in Israel, the Syrian president said, "Israel needs a strong prime minister that will be able to bring peace. A weak one may bring war. Generally speaking, Israel does not have the desire or the capabilities to achieve peace."

Assad continued to say that the most recent round of indirect talks between Israel and Syria held last May was "based on what Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told (Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip) Erdogan regarding a complete Israeli withdrawal (from the Golan Heights). Any Israeli prime minister will have to talk to us according to this. If (Likud Chairman Benjamin) Netanyahu (is elected) and he rejects this – then there won’t be negotiations."

The Syrian leader said he was bewildered by the demand that he sever ties with Iran. "In recent years they are trying to create an 'alternate enemy' to replace Israel. We will not accept this and have expressed our willingness to mediate between Iran and the West."