Syria dismisses US pressure shortsighted

A senior Syrian official on Saturday slammed US pressure as "shortsighted", saying the US charge that Syria supports terrorism is meant to satisfy arch foe Israel.

US President George W. Bush said Wednesday in his State of the Union speech that "Syria still allows its territory, and parts of Lebanon, to be used by terrorists who seek to destroy every chance of peace in the region."

"The US officials acted as a mouthpiece for Israel, not for the United States, when they talked about independent countries like Syria and Iran," Syrian Information Minister Mahdi Dakhlullah said in an interview with Xinhua.

He added that "the continued US pressure confirm two things: the first is Syria is independent on international and regional affairs, if not, the United States does not need to do this; The second is Syria can stand under such pressure without changing its positions."

On the prospect of the US-Syrian relations, Dakhlullah said there are two rival approaches in the US government.

He said "one is those who call for dialogue with Syria, but they are weak, and the other, on the contrary, are strong."

He noted that Bush always "encourages the new conservatives who believe that pressure is the only way to realize their political targets."

"Syria has no problem with the US people, nor with the real US interests," Dakhlullah said.

Washington slapped economic sanctions on Syria in May, accusing the country of supporting terrorism and seeking weapons of mass destruction, Syria denied the charge.

Source: Xinhua