U.S. Rejects Syrian Ambassador’s Assertion That Mideast Peace Not Sought

A State Department spokesman has rejected the Syrian ambassador’s suggestion that U.S. President George W. Bush has no real desire to broker a Mideast peace deal. In an interview with the Associated Press, Imad Moustapha, Syria’s ambassador to the United States said that the Annapolis conference was nothing more than "an exercise in public relations" and that some administration officials believe that when it comes to the Middle East, "chaos is constructive.” Moustapha was Syria‘s representative at Annapolis. He also said Palestinian officials have told him that no progress has been made in talks with Israel. State Department spokesman Tom Casey rejected the Syrian’s claims and referred to "serious and ongoing concerns about Syria‘s unconstructive role in the region."