The Briefing Room
General Category => World News => Topic started by: TomSea on April 09, 2019, 03:52:01 pm
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Exclusive: US could open talks with Assad if Damascus releases missing journalist
Joyce Karam
The Trump administration could open a public channel with the Syrian regime if Damascus releases kidnapped American journalist Austin Tice, a senior US official told The National in the latest push by Washington to secure his release.
United States Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Robert O’Brien said that Washington is confident that Mr Tice, who was kidnapped in the country while covering the growing conflict in 2012, is alive and still in Syrian territory.
“We believe he is in Syria, and we believe he is alive,†Mr O’Brien told The National in an exclusive interview from his office at the State Department. In a direct message to Damascus, Mr O’Brien said: “We are calling upon the government in Syria to do everything they can to help us find Austin as well as other Americans in Syria.â€
Read more at: https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/exclusive-us-could-open-talks-with-assad-if-damascus-releases-missing-journalist-1.846671 (https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/exclusive-us-could-open-talks-with-assad-if-damascus-releases-missing-journalist-1.846671)
Joyce Karam reports:
Joyce Karam
â€Verified account @Joyce_Karam
3h3 hours ago
US Envoy for Hostage affairs:
• Austin Tice is Alive & IN Syria
• Opening w Assad if released
• Iran “sorely mistaken†if it waits Trump admin. out
• GCC helping on hostages issues
• Surprised Lebanon Gov. NOT advocating enough for Nizar Zakka
https://twitter.com/Joyce_Karam/status/1115610126830977024 (https://twitter.com/Joyce_Karam/status/1115610126830977024)
This is pretty big news if people know Austin Tice is alive and it sounds like he is and it sounds like from all of this, he is being held by the Syrian government, does it not?? I think I remember, Austin Tice is from Plano, TX.... so this means he is probably not held by Jihadists or Rebels?
Who often uses Joyce Karam as a source is ME analyst Matthew RJ Brodsky. Brodsky, American, went to the University of Tel Aviv, Midwesterner. Reliable.
https://twitter.com/RJBrodsky (https://twitter.com/RJBrodsky)