Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=04/20/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=U-S/SYRIA (L-ONLY)

NUMBER=2-302374

BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has met with two members of the United States Congress. They are the first American elected officials to travel to Damascus since the escalation of tensions between Syria and the United States. Syria has denied U-S allegations that it is sheltering former Iraqi officials and has been developing chemical weapons. V-O-A's Paula Wolfson reports, the lawmakers say the meeting was positive.

TEXT: The congressmen say they got assurances that Syria will not provide safe haven to Iraqi officials wanted for war crimes.

Republican Darrell Issa of California says it was the Number One issue the Congressmen raised during their talks with President Assad.

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He gave us a solid commitment, which is being transmitted back to the State Department, which is that he would not allow these war criminals into the country. He would expel them, if he finds them, and he would not grant asylum for any of them.

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Mr. Issa made the comments shortly after the talks, in a telephone interview with the American television program "Fox News Sunday." He described the assurances from the Syrian leader as "a step in the right direction," adding he believes the United States will get cooperation from Damascus.

The California Congressman traveled to Syria with a Democratic colleague, Nick Rahall of West Virginia. He stressed that they did not go to Damascus on behalf of the Bush administration, but as individual members of the U-S Congress. All the same, he said, they would pass on the results of their talks, and hoped their discussions would, as he put it, "lay the groundwork" for a future visit by Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Also appearing on "Fox News Sunday" were two senators with a key interest in the region. Republican Pat Roberts of Kansas, the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said he believes the United States can do business with Bashar al-Assad, and resolve their differences through diplomacy.

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I don't think we should forswear the use of force, but I don't think it is necessary at all.

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Senator Roberts noted the Syrian president is a young man who has only been in office three years. Indiana Democrat Evan Bayh said there are many challenges facing the Syrian leader, who has members of his father's regime watching his every move.

/// BAYH ACT ///

I do think he understands that, with the collapse of the Soviet Union, he has lost his patron. Their economy is very bad, and they have now lost their oil sales through Iraq. So, he has got his work cut out for him.

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The fate of former Iraqi officials is the primary source of friction these days between the United States and Syria, but not the only one. A C-I-A report, cited recently by President Bush, accuses Damascus of pursuing chemical weapons. There are also lingering tensions over Syria's links to extremist Palestinian groups. (signed)

NEB/PW/TW