Kerry in Oman to Discuss Syria Peace Conference

by VOA News May 21, 2013

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has arrived in Oman on his latest stop in a campaign to help arrange an internationally-sponsored Syrian peace conference.

A senior State Department official said that while Oman has not played a key role in Syria, it is an 'important player' in the region, and Kerry wants to hear Sultan Qaboos bin Said's views.

Oman is a U.S. ally, but also has close relations with nearby Iran.

The issue of Iran's involvement in the proposed Syrian peace conference has divided the United States and Russia, the two nations that first put forth the idea of holding the talks next month.

Iran

Russia says Iran should take part. The United States has in the past objected to Iranian involvement, but says no delegations have yet been ruled in or out of the conference. France said last week it does not want Iran there.

European diplomatic sources said Monday that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has named five officials from his administration to attend the talks, including Prime Minister Wael al-Halki and various junior personnel.

Syria's main opposition group, the Syrian National Coalition, has rejected some of the officials on the list because of their lack of influence. The SNC plans to announce its decision on whether to attend the talks during a meeting Thursday in Turkey.

Kerry's visit also is to include talks about Oman's planned $2.1 billion purchase of an air defense system from U.S. defense firm Raytheon.

Jordan

​​Kerry will be in Jordan Wednesday for a meeting of the Friends of Syria, where nations backing the opposition will discuss the proposed peace conference.

Meanwhile, Lebanese Hezbollah fighters and Syrian soldiers renewed their offensive Tuesday aimed at driving rebels from the strategic town of Qusair. Opposition activists said Tuesday that more elite Hezbollah fighters have poured across the border from Lebanon into Syria to take part in the assault.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that 31 Hezbollah militiamen have been killed since Sunday in the battle for Qusair.

The Syrian government claims that in recent days its forces have dealt a severe setback to rebels in Qusair.