First visit to Syria and Lebanon

Mitchell's visit in Syria and Lebanon, the first one since he took office at the beginning of the year, shows that the comprehensive peace what the US administration is pushing forward includes not only the peace between Israel and the Palestinians, but also the peace among Israel, Syria and Lebanon.

He said after meeting Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora that "Lebanon will play a basic role in building permanent and comprehensive peace in the Middle East."

As the first high-ranking US official in the country after a landmark parliamentary election on June 7, in which the pro-Western coalition won, Mitchell congratulated the Lebanese people on holding "successful parliamentary elections."

He assured the Lebanese that the US reach out to Syria and Iran will not come at Lebanon's expense, saying his country supports Lebanon's sovereignty and independence as well as strong bilateral relations.

The US envoy's last leg of Syria, which has long-strained relations with Washington, came as a follow-up of Obama's reconciliation speech with the Muslim world and a step of US administration's cautious move to improve ties with its foes in the region.

Mitchell said after meeting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad Saturday that Damascus plays an integral role in US efforts for a comprehensive Middle East peace, despite the two "are well aware of the many difficulties."

He also told reporters that Washington is keen to seek peace between Syria and Israel, between Lebanon and Israel, and between the Palestinians and Israel, underlining the need to create suitable conditions for negotiations.

On Tuesday, Syria, which has held four rounds of Turkish-brokered indirect talks with Israel last year and halted them due to the major Israeli offensive on Gaza, expressed readiness to resume indirect contacts with the Jewish state through Turkey on relaunching peace negotiations.

(Xinhua News Agency June 14, 2009)