Rice may meet with Syrian foreign minister at Iraq conference — perhaps Iranian, too
SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt: The U.S. and Syria could hold their first substantive high-level talks in years as early as Thursday, energizing an international gathering on Iraq's future.
Syria has been eager to rekindle relations with a standoffish United States. There were signs Wednesday that U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was warmer to that idea than to what would be a more dramatic face-to-face meeting with longtime adversary Iran.
"Wouldn't rule it out," Rice responded with a thoughtful nod when asked about meeting with Syria's moderate foreign minister, a former ambassador to Washington. "We'll see who's there and what conversations take place."
Rice said she is also willing to talk with Iran's foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, after years of accusations and name-calling between the nations.
"If we encounter each other, then I'm certainly planning to be polite, to see what that encounter brings," Rice said of a potential discussion with Mottaki.
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US hopes for breakthrough talks with Iran
By Patrick Cockburn in Baghdad and Anne Penketh
The most important meeting between American and Iranian officials since George Bush became President office in 2001 could take place today.
The US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, and Iran's Foreign Minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, are both attending a summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, for Iraq and its neighbours that will attempt to contain the Iraqi conflict as well as offer financial, political and technical support.
It is unlikely that the Bush administration will sanction full-scale negotiations with Iran which it blames for stoking violence in Iraq. In January, President Bush in effect ruled out dialogue with the Iranians and Syria despite it being recommended by the bipartisan Iraq Study Group, chaired by James Baker and Lee Hamilton.
The Iranians have also expressed doubts. President Mahmoud Ahmadin-ejad has called for the US and other foreign forces to leave Iraq.
But yesterday there were indications that the Americans are looking for a face-saving way of restoring their relationship with Iran, almost three decades after the hostage crisis at the US embassy in Tehran.
Nicholas Burns, the US Undersecretary of State, speaking in London, expressed the hope that Ms Rice would be able to meet her Iranian counterpart in Sharm el-Sheikh, saying that the Americans looked forward to a "good discussion" on reducing the sectarian violence in Iraq.
Officials have made it clear that there is no connection between the Egyptian talks focusing on Iraq, and the international attempts to curb Iran's nuclear programme. But Mr Burns said: "Surely it is better for us to take the time now to see diplomacy play out, both on the nuclear issue, and on the issue of Iraq, and see if it's possible to build a few bridges with our two countries."
Ms Rice said: "I think I can handle any question that is asked of me. If we encounter each other and wander to other subjects I am prepared to address them at least in terms of American policy."
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Ahmadinejad welcomes talks with US
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Wednesday said Iran would welcome talks with the United States on the sidelines OF a conference on Iraq's future in Egypt, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported.
Speculation has swarmed over whether US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice would meet with her Iranian counterpart, Manouchehr Mottaki, during the conference, which begins Thursday. "The Iranian nation welcomes honest dialogue" with the US, Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying during a speech in the southern Iranian city of Sirjan, some 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) south of the capital, Tehran.
Pertinent Links:
1) Rice may meet with Syrian foreign minister at Iraq conference — perhaps Iranian, too
2) US hopes for breakthrough talks with Iran
3) Ahmadinejad welcomes talks with US
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