Fun Flash Games

WASHINGTON – The Obama administration is trying a new gesture in its effort to engage with Syria, telling the country's leaders it will lean toward granting their requests to import non-sensitive American equipment normally banned by U.S. law.
The move falls well short of lifting or even easing sanctions imposed in late 2003 on Syria, which is designated a "state sponsor of terrorism" by the State Department.
But the effort aims to show the administration is serious about improving ties with Damascus, officials said Tuesday.
The message was delivered in person to Syrian President Bashar Assad last weekend by U.S. special Mideast envoy, former Sen. George Mitchell, on his second trip to Damascus as part of the administration's attempt to draw Syria into regional peace efforts, the officials said.
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private diplomatic exchange, said Mitchell informed Assad that the administration would "favorably" consider applications for waivers to import certain non-military technology and supplies on a case-by-case basis.
State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said on Monday that Mitchell had merely restated existing policy, dating back to the Bush administration, that such waivers would be considered. The Bush administration had reviewed such applications but without a presumption of approval.
"Sen. Mitchell told President Assad that the U.S. would process all eligible applications for export licenses as quickly as possible, especially those requests to export products related to information technology, telecommunications equipment and parts and components related to the safety of civil aviation," Kelly told reporters on Monday.
His comments came in response to news reports in Syria based on accounts of the Mitchell-Assad conversation from Syrian officials that President Barack Obama was planning to suspend sanctions on Syria, something that both the State Department and the White House firmly denied.
One official described that Syrian interpretation as "fantastical." And, Kelly stressed that "any changes to U.S. sanctions require close coordination with Congress because this is written into the law."
Officials said Tuesday that although Syrian applications, particularly for spare parts for civilian aircraft, would be looked on in a positive light, the approvals were not guaranteed and that Mitchell had not made any promises to that effect.
The officials also said there was no discussion at the moment of asking Congress to roll back the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act signed by President George W. Bush in December 2003, which imposed the sanctions.