Assad meets with US congressional team, discussions include Lebanon

Source: AFP, 06-04-2009

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met on Sunday with a visiting US congressional team, which voiced optimism that the two countries could work together to advance their common interests in the region.
"We had a candid and constructive meeting," the delegation made up of Stephen Lynch, a Democrat, and Republican Bob Inglis said in a statement issued by the American Embassy after the talks.

They said the talks covered Lebanon, the security situation on the Syrian-Iraqi border, the Middle East peace process and humanitarian relief efforts in Gaza.
"We are optimistic that, although we have substantial differences, we nonetheless have shared interests in the region. With genuine effort on all sides, we are hopeful that we can work constructively towards our mutual goals," they said.

Syria's state news agency SANA said Assad and the congressmen discussed ways "to advance Syrian-US relations through a serious and constructive dialogue ... to achieve just and peaceful solutions to the region's problems."