US envoy meets Syria's Assad amid thaw in ties

The US Under-secretary of State for Political Affairs, William Burns, says that the appointment of a new US ambassador to Syria is a clear sign of willingness by the US to improve relations. He said Syria played an important role in the Middle East, and that the move would help towards a goal of lasting peace in the region. Burns made the comments following talks with Syria's President Bashar Assad in Damascus. He said they talked candidly about areas of disagreement, but that they also identified areas of common ground.

William Burns, said, "The White House announced yesterday that Robert Ford will be the next American ambassador to Syria if he is confirmed by the US Senate. That is a clear sign, after five years without an American ambassador in Damascus, of America's readiness to improve relations, and to cooperate in the pursuit of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace between Arabs and Israelis with progress on all tracks of the peace process and in the pursuit of regional peace and stability."

The US Under-secretary of State for Political Affairs,  William Burns (File photo)