أرشيف موقع العهد الإخباري من 1999-2018
ارشيف من : 2005-2008
Pelosi to Start Landmark Visit to Syria
mission slammed by the White House.
The leading Democrat said in Beirut on Monday that her planned visit to Damascus was "a good idea", despite the anger it has stirred in the administration of President Bush.
Speaking to journalists before leaving for Amman, Pelosi referred to a bipartisan US group that last year recommended engaging US foes Syria and Iran in a bid to calm war-torn Iraq.
"Our trip to Syria is one that is ... also important to the Iraq Study Group which encourages such diplomacy and engagement," she said.
"The purpose of this trip is a part of our responsibility for the national security of the United States," Pelosi said.
While the visit has been welcomed in Damascus, the White House says she risks undermining US efforts to isolate Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters in Washington that "we discourage such trips by high-ranking US officials".
Pelosi, a strident Bush opponent, said that three Republican politicians were in Damascus on Sunday and met Assad -- and "I didn`t hear the White House speaking about that".
During her visit, "we will be talking about the overarching issue, the fight against terrorism and the role that Syria can play to help or to hinder that role," Pelosi said in Lebanon.
The US delegation will also discuss "the role of Syria in supporting Hamas and Hezbollah".
A source at the US embassy in Damascus told AFP that Pelosi and Assad would discuss "issues linked to Syrian-American and regional issues".
Syria`s embassy in Washington has hailed Pelosi`s proposed trip as "momentous" and expressed hopes it may improve strained relations.
"Mrs Pelosi is welcome in Damascus. There are great hopes of a rebalancing of US policy in the region," Syria`s official Tishrin newspaper said on Monday. The US "knows Syria is open to dialogue with the Americans".
Elias Murad, editor of the ruling party`s daily newspaper Al-Baath, called the visit "recognition of Syria`s role. It shows there is more than one point of view on dealing with Damascus."