Syria providing weapons to Hezbollah: US
Source:ZeenewsWashington: The Obama administration has said that there are indications that Syria is providing weapons to Hezbollah.
"Are we concerned about the nature of missiles that are being provided from Syria to Hezbollah? Absolutely, and that is at the heart of why Syria is a member of the State Sponsor of Terrorism list," Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs PJ Crowley said.
"We have had direct conversations with Syria about the nature of their assistance to Hezbollah. It is destabilising," he said.
Crowley said the US wants to see Syria play a more constructive role in the region.
"We think by having daily conversations with Syria that is a more effective way to proceed than having episodic conversations through other visitors to Damascus on an ongoing basis," he said.
"As to Scuds, let us say we have concerns and we continue to watch that issue very carefully. But we are concerned about the broader issue of the nature of Syrian support to Hezbollah on a range - involving a range of missiles, including that one," Crowley said in response to a question.
"We understand that there are concerns, not only about the Syrian behaviour in the region, but we think that actually makes the compelling case that we need an ambassador
there who is making clear to Syria what we think it needs to do going forward," he said.
The State Department official said it is in America's national interest to see Syria evolve as a more constructive player in the Middle East.
"It is in our national interest to see Syria actually engage directly with Israel to pursue the Syrian track of Middle East peace.”
“We think that we can pursue our national interest more effectively by having an ambassador there by - rather than having someone do that from here," he said.
"Are we concerned about the nature of missiles that are being provided from Syria to Hezbollah? Absolutely, and that is at the heart of why Syria is a member of the State Sponsor of Terrorism list," Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs PJ Crowley said.
"We have had direct conversations with Syria about the nature of their assistance to Hezbollah. It is destabilising," he said.
Crowley said the US wants to see Syria play a more constructive role in the region.
"We think by having daily conversations with Syria that is a more effective way to proceed than having episodic conversations through other visitors to Damascus on an ongoing basis," he said.
"As to Scuds, let us say we have concerns and we continue to watch that issue very carefully. But we are concerned about the broader issue of the nature of Syrian support to Hezbollah on a range - involving a range of missiles, including that one," Crowley said in response to a question.
"We understand that there are concerns, not only about the Syrian behaviour in the region, but we think that actually makes the compelling case that we need an ambassador
there who is making clear to Syria what we think it needs to do going forward," he said.
The State Department official said it is in America's national interest to see Syria evolve as a more constructive player in the Middle East.
"It is in our national interest to see Syria actually engage directly with Israel to pursue the Syrian track of Middle East peace.”
“We think that we can pursue our national interest more effectively by having an ambassador there by - rather than having someone do that from here," he said.
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