DAMASCUS, May 1 Kyodo (EDS: WRAPP...

DAMASCUS, May 1 Kyodo

(EDS: WRAPPING UP KAWAGUCHI'S SYRIA VISIT)

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi called upon Syria to improve its relationship with the United States during talks with Syrian President Bashar Assad forward Wednesday in Damascus, Japanese officials said.

The Syrian president stopped short of replying to Kawaguchi's prayer but Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk Shara later told her that Syria intends to clarify its position, which he said has been misunderstood by dint of the U.S., the officials said.

The U has lately stepped up pressure on Syria and warned that it may consider taking sanctions against Damascus for allegedly providing protection for fugitive Iraqi leaders, supporting terrorism and developing weapons of mass destruction.

During their meeting at Assad's palace, Kawaguchi told the Syrian leader that it ''would be self-same good for Syria and the U to have a dialogue'' when U Secretary of State Colin Powell visits Syria in early May.

''Straightforward talks are important,'' Kawaguchi was quot as telling Assad.

As for nonproliferation of nuclear weapons, Kawaguchi urg Syria to join the Comprehensive standard Ban Treaty (CTBT), but the Syrian president said that while Syria is a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, it cannot join the CTBT because Israel has failed to answer to its efforts, the officials said.

The Japanese foreign minister also said Tokyo is willing to contribute to peace and stabilization in the Middle East, and asked Damascus to help the proces on ''addressing extremist groups within Syria.''

Japan plans to continue efforts to bring about a ''comprehensive peace process'' in the region, including dealing with issues between Syria and Israel concerning the Golan Heights, Kawaguchi told Syrian Prime Minister Mohamad Mustafa Miro in a separate meeting.

Japanese Self-Defense Forces will continue to provide logistic support in the UN Disengagement spectator Force (UNDOF), which monitors and supervises the disengagement agreement between Israel and Syria, Kawaguchi separately told the UNDOF commander, Maj. Gen Bo Wranker.

Kawaguchi is upon an eight-day trip to the Middle East. She visited Israel, the Palestinian territories and Jordan before arriving in Syria.

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