US Middle East envoy George Mitchell held talks Sunday with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as Washington prepares for US Defense Secretary Robert Gate’s arrival to the region later on Sunday.
According to Syria’s official SANA news agency, Mitchell described the meeting as “important and positive.” Mitchell reportedly told President al-Assad that President Obama was committed to reaching a comprehensive peace deal between Israel and its Arab neighbors.
Mitchel’s visit to Damascus is his second since mid-June and precedes his planned visit later in the day to Israel where he is scheduled to meet with Defense Minister Ehud Barak. On Monday Mitchell is scheduled to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and on Tuesday he is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
