Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Syria's Deputy Foreign Minister: Western Intelligence Agencies Want Security Contacts With The Syrian Government

Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad (AFP Photo / Louai Beshara)

Syria Says It Held Talks With Western Spies About Jihadis -- New York Times

LONDON — As Western countries display increasing alarm at the strength of multinational Islamist extremists among rebels in Syria opposed to President Bashar al-Assad, a Syrian official was quoted on Wednesday as saying Western intelligence agencies had sent representatives to Damascus to discuss the phenomenon with the government there.

If confirmed, the assertion by the official, Faisal Mekdad, the deputy foreign minister, would mean that while Western politicians have publicly called for Mr. Assad’s ouster, their own intelligence subordinates were privately collaborating with Mr. Assad’s lieutenants.

In an interview with the BBC, Mr. Mekdad was asked whether representatives of Western intelligence agencies — including those of Britain — had recently traveled to Damascus. “I will not specify them but many of them have visited Damascus, yes,” he replied.

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More News On Western Intelligence Agencies Wanting Security Contacts With The Syrian Government

Damascus says West reaches out on security -- Reuters
European Spies Reach Out to Syria -- Wall Street Journal
Syria says West talks to Damascus about Islamist rebels -- BBC
Western agencies visited Damascus to discuss security with regime -- The Telegraph
Western intelligence talking to Damascus -- Global Post/AFP
Schism in EU? Intelligence co-operate with Syria amid political freeze -- RT

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