DAMASCUS (AFP) — Former US president Jimmy Carter said on Thursday he believed the new US administration of President Barack Obama could lift sanctions on Syria and upgrade ties by sending an ambassador to Damascus.
"I think the United States will respond... to any positive steps that Syria takes," Carter said at a press conference after meeting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Foreign Minister Walid Muallem.
"There's no doubt on my mind that the American president wants to have full and cooperative relationships with Syria, and that involves the lifting of sanctions in the future and that also involves the appointment of an American ambassador to Damascus," he said.
Carter, who is in Syria ahead of a visit by US Middle East envoy George Mitchell on Friday and Saturday, said he is also due to have talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders on his peace mission.
"I hope that we can see a rapid renewal of peace talks between Israel and Syria concerning the withdrawal of Israel of the Golan Heights," he said, referring to the strategic plateau captured in war by Israel from Syria in 1967.
The Obama administration has been cautiously pursuing diplomatic engagement with Syria in a bid to promote Arab-Israeli peace.
Washington first imposed economic sanctions on Syria in 2004 over charges that it was a state sponsor of terrorism and they have been extended several times since.
Ties deteriorated after the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, and the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri in 2005 which was blamed on Syria.
Washington recalled its ambassador in February 2005 following Hariri's murder and no decision has yet been taken on his replacement.
Damascus has denied any involvement in Hariri's killing, but withdrew its troops from Lebanon two months later, ending almost three decades of domination.
The United States also accuses Syria and its non-Arab ally Iran of giving material support to the radical Palestinian movement Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah in their conflicts with Israel.
Carter also urged reconciliation between Hamas and the rival Fatah movement headed by Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas "so they can have a stable foundation on which they can negotiate effectively with the Israeli leaders."
"I don't believe there is any possibility to have peace between Palestinians and Israel unless Hamas is involved directly, with Fatah."
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