News-Info-Alerts

Re: Syria to Meet With Iraq in "Several Weeks"

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Date: April 05, 2002

Forty-eight hours ago, President Bush singled out Syria in his speech... suddenly Syria pops up in the news. Syria saya it was 'unaware' of the recent news about the missing Gulf War pilot and would the subject up when they meet with Iraq in 'several weeks.'

"Syria to inquire on Navy pilot's fate

By Paul Pinkham
Times-Union staff writer

Syria's president agreed yesterday to inquire and seek information about the fate of a Jacksonville Navy pilot, missing since he was shot down over Iraq 11 years ago, a U.S. senator said.

President Bashar al-Assad pledged to use what influence he has with Iraq after meeting with U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., for nearly two hours in Damascus.

"They are a neighbor. They are also another Arab country. And although they've had difficulties with Iraq, they do now have communications," said Nelson, traveling in the region with other members of Congress to discuss the war on terrorism. " I just saw an opportunity with one of the major leaders of the region, and I did not want to miss that opportunity."

Cmdr. Scott Speicher of Jacksonville was declared killed in action when he was shot down on the first night of the Gulf War with Iraq in 1991. The Pentagon changed his status last year to missing in action based on persistent foreign intelligence reports from Iraqi deserters who claimed an American pilot was being held captive in Baghdad.

"We're thankful for Sen. Nelson's intervention and hopeful for a third party's intervention," said Cindy Laquidara, a Jacksonville attorney representing Speicher's family. "We have full confidence that Syria's capable of doing this."

Nelson said in a telephone interview from Damascus that he checked with the U.S. Embassy there and was told they had asked the Syrians a year ago to share any information they had about Speicher's fate. The embassy hasn't received a reply, the senator said, so he decided to bring it up during his meeting with Assad.

He said Assad appeared unaware of recent news reports speculating Speicher might be alive. But Assad told Nelson he would have opportunities to bring the matter up, including when an Iraqi diplomatic delegation visits Damascus in several weeks.

Staff writer Paul Pinkham can be reached at (904) 359-4107 or via e-mail at ppinkham@jacksonville.com.

© The Florida Times-Union "