WASHINGTON - Leading US Democratic legislator Nancy Pelosi defended on Thursday her controversial meeting with Syria's President Bashar al-Assad.
In a nod to strong criticism of their trip from the White House, Pelosi and her delegation said in a statement that they told Assad he could achieve peace in the region if he stops supporting terrorism.
And they reiterated that their purpose had been "to assess the impact of events in the region on the national security interests of the United States".
"There is no separation between this delegation, Congress, and President (George W.) Bush on the commitment of the United States to fight terrorism, end the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and pursue peace.
"We have no illusions about the complexity of the challenges facing this region, but hope that recent diplomatic activity will generate some momentum for progress."
The statement was issued late Thursday after Pelosi and the other lawmakers returned from their swing through Syria, Israel, Lebanon, the Palestinian Territories and Saudi Arabia.
The trip was strongly attacked by Bush and other members of his administration, which has tried to isolate Assad who the US says supports terror groups in Iraq, Lebanon and the Palestinian territories.
The White House accused Pelosi of rewarding Assad for "bad behavior."
"By going to Damascus at this stage it serves to reinforce, if you will, and reward Bashar Assad for his bad behavior," Vice President Dick Cheney said Thursday.
"He's done all kinds of things that are not in the interests of the United States, including allowing Syria to be an area from which attacks are launched against our people inside Iraq."
Pelosi's statement said however, that they stressed to Assad the need to stop supporting terrorism in the region.
"We emphasized to President Assad that peace with Israel is essential to a US-Syria relationship. We conveyed to him (Israeli) Prime Minister (Ehud) Olmert's overture for peace talks when Syria openly takes steps to stop supporting terrorism.
"President Assad declared that he is ready to resume the peace process and enter into negotiations.
"The test will be whether Syria ceases its support for terrorism, engages in a productive and realistic effort to resolve its differences and live in peace with the State of Israel, and acts to stop the flow of foreign fighters into Iraq."
The statement also endorsed the international investigation into the murder of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri, whose grave the Pelosi group visited.
It said the group was "encouraged" by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to reform the Fatah party and shore up his security forces to reduce the influence of Hamas, which the US has labelled a terror group.
As for the final Saudi Arabia leg of the trip, the delegation said it had an extended meeting with King Abdullah, discussing the importance of the US-Saudi relationship especially in the war on terror.
"The delegation commended the king on his efforts to end the violence and suffering in Darfur and Somalia, and to move the Israeli-Palestinian peace process forward.
"In the meeting with the Shoura Council, the delegation discussed regional threats including Iran, and visa issues of concern to the Saudis."
04/06/2007 07:18 GMT