U.S. in Discussions With Syria Over Missing Journalist Austin Tice
State Department says its been in periodic, direct contact with Syrian government officials
By FELICIA SCHWARTZ
WASHINGTON—The U.S. and Syria are in discussions over missing journalist Austin Tice, the State Department said Friday in an unusual admission of direct communication with the Assad regime.
“We have been in periodic, direct contact with Syrian government officials on consular issues, including the case of Austin Tice,” a State Department official said. The U.S. is also discussing Mr. Tice’s case and those of other Americans with the Czech Republic, which acts as the U.S.’s protecting power in Syria.
The disclosure this week from the U.S. followed a report in a French newspaper Le Figaro.
Mr. Tice disappeared near Damascus in August 2012 while working as a freelance journalist. He isn’t believed to be held by Islamic State extremists and his family remains hopeful his release will be secured.
“It’s something we’ve been asking for quite some time,” Marc Tice, Austin’s father, said in an interview. “We believe that direct discussions about Austin’s case between the U.S. government and the Syrian government are critical to locating Austin and safely returning him. We’re very gratified those are taking place.”
Marc Tice said the family hadn’t received any proof of life or information from Austin’s captors, except for a video posted on YouTube in September 2012 that showed him blindfolded and in the presence of his captors.
The State Department notified the Tice family about the direct contact between the U.S. and Syria earlier this week, after the French report came out, Mr. Tice said.
Mr. Tice’s family, in conjunction with the organization Reporters Without Borders, in February launched Free Austin Tice, a campaign to draw attention to his case.
Mr. Tice’s family launched a campaign in February to draw attention to his case, in conjunction with the organization Reporters Without Borders.
The admission of direct contact with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime comes as the U.S. continues to say Mr. Assad has lost international legitimacy and cannot be part of a political solution to the conflict with Syria.
“President Assad could stop the conflict in Syria right now, by demonstrating a willingness for his regime to engage in meaningful dialogue with the opposition,” State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke said Friday.
In an interview with Charlie Rose for a coming TV episode of “60 Minutes,” Mr. Assad said he is open to dialogue with the U.S.
“Any dialogue is positive, as I said, in principal, of course, without pressuring the sovereignty of Syria,” Mr. Assad said in an excerpt of the interview published on CBS’s website.
Secretary of State John Kerry earlier in March said the U.S. would ultimately need to open negotiations with Mr. Assad’s regime to end the country’s brutal civil war. He added he is working to build support among allies to continue to pressure for a political solution.
Two rounds of peace talks in Switzerland last year, which included representatives from the Syrian government, failed last year.
The United Nations special representative for the Syrian conflict, Staffan de Mistura, has since been working to broker a cease fire in Aleppo, which Mr. Kerry has said he supports.
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL