US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mouallim have held talks for the first time.

It marks a new high in the growing relationship between the two countries. It is the highest level talks since the US recalled their ambassador to Damascus two years ago.

It comes days after the US military leader of Iraq, said through his spokesman, Major General William Caldwell: "There has been some movement by the Syrians ... there has been a reduction in the flow of foreign fighters into Iraq" for more than a month.

The talks happened on the sidelines of a conference about Iraq in Egypt. Just weeks ago a similar conference was held in Baghdad, and senior Americans and Syrians held talks, surprising everyone - it seems that was in preparation of today's groundbreaking moves.

The US has not held similar talks with Iran. So it could be that these moves are part of the Saudi initiative to split Syria from Iran - bringing Syria into the Saudi/Egypt/US fold, while continuing to isolate Iran.

The Levant has been abuzz with rumour that the Hariri tribunal is almost dead - it's daddy, French President Jacques Chirac will be replaced on Sunday, Bush is making overtures towards Syria, and on his visit to Damascus this week, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon rejected calls to force the tribunal through, despite Lebanese demands.

Today's talks will do nothing to quell those rumours.

Labels: America, Iraq, the thaw

This is a new blog spotted by the wonderful Ayman.

Bob's left America to spend nine months studying Arabic in Syria. His writing offers all the insights of someone casting their fresh eyes on this city, just like I was talking about a couple of days ago. It's beautifully written too.

This post about paper sellers jumped out at me.

And oh, oh, here's InHouse (the trendy Starbucks-esque coffee shop which started life near the American school in Maliki, but has now spread across Damascus).

Labels: America, Damascus new city, Old City, Syrian blogosphere

Oooh, hello to the Americans dropping by from 'that' US newspaper article.

First, have a look at the status of women in Syria.

Feel free to look around. And when you're done here, if your craving for the real feelings of Syrians isn't satisfied, you must visit:

Syria Planet, it re-posts what every known Syrian blog is saying.

And have a look at Syria Comment for some of the most informed words on this beautiful country.

Don't forget - Syria wants PEACE. Syria has repeatedly asked for peace talks WITHOUT CONDITIONS with Israel and America. Why haven't we got an answer? Letters on a postcard please (or in the comments section if you can't afford a postcard).

And what about that thorny issue of democracy:

Labels: America, Israel, Peace talks, Syrian blogosphere, Video

Just days after the major protests in Damascus over the refugee crisis, there have been some important developments.


Photo: John Wreford. The sign reads: "How can we return and the violence is still there?"

The US and Syria are talking - for the first time in years. US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice says she has authorised negotiations to 'launch a new initiative' to help Syria deal with the flood of Iraqi refugees (lets hope it is more sucessful than their previous 'initiatives').

They will apparently talk about co-operation on refugee issues, and speeding up processing of refugees - to get them from Syria to America more easily.

It all comes from a change in Syrian visa laws. Until now, Arab citizens had been exempt from rules allowing visitors to stay for just 15 days. But strained under the weight of one million Iraqi refugees, Syria finally changed the rules, to make Iraqis subject to the normal limits. Syria has taken half of all the people who have fled Iraq.

Finally, America has accepted responsibility for part of the mess they have caused in Iraq, by talking with Syria about the refugee crisis they have imposed on Damascus.

Let's just hope they are talking WITH and not just talking AT Syria.

The last time there were any positive words between Washington and Damascus was in September when Syria foiled a terrorist attack on the US embassy.

UN PROMISES IRAQIS WON'T BE SENT HOME

The other major development is a statement by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres has thanked Syria for taking in such a large number of Iraqis. And they say Syria has promised not to send anyone back to Iraq despite the change in visa rules.

He made the annoucement in the Damascus suburb of Sayda Zeinab, one of the main destinations for Iraqis arriving in Syria.

Guterres has also visited Saudi Arabia and Kuwait - both of those countries have banned refugees from entering.

It seems people power works.

Labels: America, Iraq, Refugees, UN

This officer "is on trial effectively for calling for a military coup d’etat to overthrow [parliament] and the president."

No, no, it's not in an Arab country. This is America. Uh huh.

Oh but hang on just a second, have you changed your mind: "[This officer] does not call for the ouster of the president." But I thought...

Never mind, let's keep reading: "The real "wholesale slaughter" is the one carried out daily by al-Jazeera’s terrorist bombers."

Excuse me?

Labels: America

More from the ABC News series of week-long Bashar Al-Assad interviews, being shown every morning in the US here.

A quote: "So should I tell them, 'You have to go away from me. I don't need your support,' when the rest of the world is trying to isolate Syria? Of course not. We need the support of Iran. We need the support of every other country."

Labels: America, Bashar Al-Assad, Iran

Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad's given a long sit down interview with ABC's Good Morning America about Iraq. It is a rare event. Full video here.

Some quotes:
"We are the main player."

"What's the benefit of democracy if you're dead."

On the insurgents: "They have to stop looking for scapegoats and whipping boys...you can't stoke the fire because it will burn you." But Syria needs American and Iraqi help.

On intelliegence sharing: "We have to and we are willing to co-operate with the rest of the world on terrorism." (That answer followed this question: "Do you know where Osama bin Laden is?").

Who do you admire the most: "President Bush, the elder, and Clinton, because they had the will to achieve peace."

Diane Sawyer also has some interesting feature pieces:

Syria's young people talk about American stereotypes of their country: People ask if we live in tents and ride on camels, they think we all wear veils.

And find out what's on Bashar's iPod, if you care.

Labels: America, Bashar Al-Assad, Iraq, Video

"Fifty per cent of terrorism enters Iraq from Syria, and we have evidence," claims Ali al-Dabbagh - the same man who said Saddam's execution was respectful and dignified. OOPS.

And, oh, is that the sound of Americans disagreeing with you Mr Al Dabbagh? The military revealed 93% of all terrorists in Iraqi prisons were Iraqi, and SEVEN people were Syrian. SEVEN. There were more Jordanian terrorists in Iraq.

Now, I wonder how many Saudis are there.

Labels: America, Iraq

Syrian schoolchildren are taught the language of war. Palestinian text books deny the existence of Israel. Iranian classroom maps say 'Occupied Palestine'. Common accusations from the enlightened West.

Arabs are often portrayed as forcing war down the throats of our children. But who is exposing youngsters to this tragedy? Arab parents and teachers, or the American soldiers and Israeli settlers illegally occupying Arab land?

It is often said that we shouldn't forget our history, so that we don't make the same mistakes again. It is even more difficult to ignore our present. If we do, nothing will change. Maybe that's what our enlightened friends want.

Labels: America, Social issues

They want to interfere in other countries' business and damage chances for peace in the Middle East.

Sound familiar?

But it's not Syria. It's America.

According to Alon Liel (former head of Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and the Syrian government - America is blocking a peace deal between Syria and Israel.

Syria AND Israel want peace. America doesn't want them to do a deal.

America has got its hands deep in other pies in the region too.

Of course we've got the occupation of Iraq, and the colony of Israel.

In the past few days we've heard Sa'ad Al-Hariri (Lebanon's spiritual leader) blame Iran for Lebanon's tension. We've heard Egypt blame Iran for the murder of a diplomat in Iraq in 2003. And today we've had Mahmoud Abbas blaming Iran for formenting civil war in Palestine.

Co-incidence? Or do puppets all speak the words of their puppet master?

Labels: America, Israel, Peace talks