US Security Delegation to Visit Syria
By VOA News
12 August 2009
A U.S. security delegation is due to visit Syria on Wednesday for talks on Syrian efforts to help curb the movement of foreign fighters into Iraq.
U.S. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley says the delegation will follow up on a meeting with Syrian officials that took place in June.
He says the delegation will be led by State Department official Fredrick Hoff, an aide to the U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell.
The Obama administration has been working to improve relations with Syria and advance the Middle East peace process. U.S. officials have held a series of meetings in recent months with their Syrian counterparts, and the United States announced in June it plans to reinstate its ambassador to Syria after a four-year absence.
The U.S. has long accused Syria of supporting Islamic militant groups, such as Hamas and Hezbollah, that the U.S. considers terrorist groups. Washington also has voiced concern about Syria's human rights record and its role in neighboring Lebanon.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
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