Powell’s visit to Syria, according to observers, could make or break U.S.-Syrian relations

THE HAGUE, April 28 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Again the United States is refueling its recently-softened tone against Syria, with a high-ranking U.S. official Monday, April 28, expressing Washington’s worries that Damascus has ‘active chemical weapons programs’. 

While voicing strong support for the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the U.S. assistant secretary of state for arms control, Stephen Rademaker, added that Washington is still worried that Syria, Libya and North Korea have active chemical weapons programs.

"The U.S. strongly supports universality and we are concerned about states not party to the convention (for the prohibition of chemical weapons) like Syria, Libya and North Korea that have an active chemical weapons program," Rademaker said at a press conference in The Hague, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

"We believe there is nothing more dangerous in the world today than the combination of weapons of mass destruction and state support for international terrorism" as is present in those counties, he added.

Rademaker said the U.S. would support the decision of any non-party state to join the convention.

Asked about Syria, he said he would "absolutely" support a mission by the OPCW's director to convince Damascus to join the arms watchdog.

Meanwhile, Syria is seeking to put a resolution to the UN Security Council calling for the Middle East to become a zone free of weapons of mass destruction.

Syria has said it will not allow international inspections of its military arsenal or its territory to refute U.S. accusations that it possesses chemical weapons.

Rademaker praised the OPCW, which is holding its first review conference this week in The Hague, for being "on the right track". Washington waged a highly publicized campaign earlier this year to oust the former OPCW chief whom it accused of mismanagement.

Based in The Hague, the OPCW brings together 151 member states that have signed the 1993 convention, which aims to eliminate chemical weapons by 2007.

Rademaker said that the United States was not only concerned about non-state parties seeking to acquire chemical weapons, but singled out Iran and Sudan as signatory states who raise U.S. concerns.

"We believe Iran continues to seek chemicals, production technology, training and expertise from abroad," Rademaker claimed.

Rademaker said Washington is currently working with Sudan to "reconcile" concerns that the African country is seeking to produce chemical weapons, he added.

U.S. Congressman Chided In Turkey over Syria
   
In Ankara, meanwhile, a U.S. congressman visiting Turkey in a bid to improve relations following the Iraq invasion came under criticism from Turkish colleagues Monday for comments on Ankara's ties with Syria and Iran.

Speaking after talks with visiting Democratic Representative Robert Wexler, senior Turkish legislators said the congressman said there were doubts in Washington over Turkey's recently intensified contacts with Syria and Iran over developments in their common neighbor Iraq, Anatolia news agency reported.

"They are apparently wondering: 'Is Turkey changing its direction? It is talking with Syria and Iran, what is happening?' And we told him that they are Turkey's neighbors and talks are natural," Mehmet Dulger, the head of the foreign affairs commission in the Turkish parliament, told reporters.

Another commission member Onur Oymen said: "When he (Wexler) asked what messages are being carried to Syria, I told him that when ties between Turkey and Syria were at their worst period, the U.S. Secretary of State visited Syria 22 times and never came to Turkey. We were also wondering then what messages were being carried."

In the same direction, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul will pay a one-day visit to Damascus Tuesday to discuss the situation in Iraq. The trip follows several visits to Ankara by Iranian leaders.

Turkey has in recent years also warmed up its ties with Iran following years of animosity over accusations by Ankara that Tehran was backing Islamists aiming to undermine its strictly secular system.

Syrian FM In Lebanon Thursday

In a separate related development, Syrian Foreign Minister Faruq al-Shara is expected in Beirut Thursday and not Monday as previously announced, his Lebanese counterpart Jean Obeid said.

Obeid, who was speaking to reporters, did not say why Shara's trip was postponed.
Earlier a government source said that Shara would make an unscheduled visit to Beirut Monday for talks with President Emile Lahoud.

Shara's visit will be the first to Lebanon since U.S. forces overthrew Saddam Hussein and occupied Iraq.

On the same day, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell kicks off a round of visits to the region in an effort to breath new life into the Israeli-Palestinian peace process as promised by the U.S. leadership.

Recently Syria has come under increased U.S. pressure, with officials in Washington accusing it of supporting "terrorist" groups, pursuing chemical weapons programs and hosting members of Saddam's deposed regime.

It has rejected the charges and taken a moderate stand, calling for dialogue and inviting Powell to visit Damascus, which is on his itinerary.