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Syria 'not the enemy'

Syrian Ambassador Imad Moustapha insisted that his country is a friend of the United States and considers it the only nation that can broker a Middle East peace.

Even though the State Department lists Syria as a nation that sponsors terrorism, his government "amazingly enough" agrees with many of the Bush administration's goals in the region, Mr. Moustapha said at a Washington forum this week.

Syria, however, criticizes U.S. support for Israel as a double standard. The Bush administration, meanwhile, is considering sanctions against Syria for its support of Hamas and Hezbollah, two terrorist groups that target Israeli soldiers and civilians.

"We are not the enemies of the United States. We have never, ever been the enemies of the United States," he said. "Yes, we disagree with policies of the United States administration vis-a-vis the Middle East conflict. Amazingly enough, we do not disagree with the principles that the United States always repeats when they talk on principles."

Mr. Moustapha added, "Everybody knows that the United States always advocates a peaceful resolution of the Middle East conflict. They advocate an independent Palestinian state. They talk about their vision for a Middle East absolutely free from all weapons of mass destruction.

"We do not disagree with their vision. Where we actually disagree with the United States is on how they apply their policies -- what we call in our region the double-standards approach to the Middle East."

Nevertheless, he said, his government recognizes the clout of the United States in the Middle East peace efforts.

"We still believe in Syria that the United States of America is the only feasible broker for a Middle East peace," he said. "We know that it is, right now, not considered by the Arab people -- nor by lots of Americans, themselves, nor even by lots of international leaders -- as a fair and honest broker of peace in the Middle East.