U.S. to hold new talks with Syria

From Elise Labott
CNN State Department Producer
WASHINGTON (CNN) - The Obama administration is sending two senior U.S. envoys to Syria next week, another sign of warming ties between the two countries, according to U.S. and Syrian officials briefed on the talks.

Assistant Secretary Jeffrey Feltman, the top State Department official on the Middle East, and National Security Council official Daniel Shapiro will be will be making their second trip to Damascus in less than two months as the United States seeks to upgrade relations with Syria.

Since his last trip to Damascus in March, Feltman and Imad Moustapha, Syria's ambassador to Washington, have held several meetings aimed at nailing down areas of cooperation. The meetings have been the start of more regular contacts between Washington and Damascus through normal diplomatic channels.

Syrian officials said the meetings in Damascus and Washington have helped the two sides develop common strategies that they now hope to put into action.