US rules out direct talks with Iran, Syria

Washington, Mar 1 (UNI) The Bush administration has ruled out direct talks with Iran and Syria at the two upcoming conferences on Iraq in which representatives of the three nations are expected to take part.

White House Spokesman Tony Snow said he expected no direct discussions on the sidelines of the conference.

''There will not be bilateral talks between the United States and Iran or the United States and Syria within the context of these meetings. These are organized by the Iraqis and these are on issues that are pertinent to Iraq,'' Snow said.

He said the decision to attend the two Iraqi conferences does not mean there had been a shift in the policy of Bush administration policy.

However, this was not for the first time that the three countries would be attending a multilateral meeting, he added.

The United States has diplomatic relations with Syria, although strained by what the Bush administration calls as Syrian meddling in Lebanon and its unwillingness to take strong action to check foreign fighters from crossing its border into Iraq.

The US severed diplomatic ties with Iran in 1979, and the Bush administration has made clear any improvement in their relations is based on a decision by Tehran to end its nuclear enrichment program, which the US believes is for developing nuclear weapons.

The Position has not changed, Snow added.

UNI