WASHINGTON - The United States said Friday it sees a "mixed picture" from Syria about whether it seeks to cooperate with US aims in the Middle East since Damascus backed revived peace talks in the region.
"You have indications of things like participating at the Annapolis conference," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters.
He said the Syria's presence at the conference Tuesday in Annapolis, Maryland contrasts, for example, with its proposal just over a month ago to hold a gathering of groups opposed to Palestinian-Israeli peace moves.
"So, there's definitely a mixed picture there," McCormack said.
"We would hope that they would make a more definitive statement to the international community through their actions that they want to play a positive role in the region. I don't think anybody has seen that at this point," he said.
He could not offer a "definitive assessment" when a reporter asked if there was any proof that Syria is cooperating more with Washington to support free elections in Lebanon or stop arms or militants from entering Iraq from Syria.
Its talks frozen with Israel since 2000, Syria attended the Annapolis talks when it was assured it would be able to discuss its demand for the return of the Golan Heights as well as other Arab negotiations with Israel.
To ensure broader Arab participation, Washington had opened up the conference to include talks on a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace even though it sought to keep the focus on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
With the Golan issue not explicitly on the agenda, Damascus sent its deputy foreign minister Faisal Mekdad to Annapolis, though its representation was lower than from Arab states like Saudi Arabia that sent foreign ministers.
"The participation of Syria at this meeting represents an extra step by it to contribute to reaching a just and global peace in our troubled region," Mekdad said at the conference.
It stressed the importance of the Madrid peace conference in 1991 which launched negotiations on Israel's conflicts with the Palestinians, Lebanon and Syria.
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11/30/2007 20:26 GMT