ROME, Feb 8: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warned Syria on Tuesday that if it wants to avoid being "isolated" it must end support for militants opposed to reconciliation with Israel.
"It is time for Syria to demonstrate that it does not want to be isolated, that it does not want to have bad relations with the United States," Ms Rice said after talks here with Italian Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini.
In a joint press conference dominated by the Middle East conflict, the US official had harsh words for Syria, saying it has been "unhelpful" by supporting Anti-Israel militants.
"I can't say it strongly enough. You can't say on one hand that you want a process of peace and on the other hand support the people who are determined to blow it up.
"Syria has been unhelpful in a number of ways, including support for terrorists and militants operating out of South Lebanon," she said.
"There's a long list and while we sometimes make what I call minimal progress, it is by no means the kind of progress we need to make," said Ms Rice.
She said the militants opposed to Israel "cannot be allowed to continue to try to orchestrate the process".
Washington has imposed trade and investment sanctions against Syria under the Syrian Accountability Act passed at the end of 2003, but US officials acknowledge they have nothing new in the pipeline beyond the latest sanctions imposed last May.
"The ties of Syria or Iran to these terrorist organizations really need to be the subject of more discussion not just by the Israelis and Palestinians but of course the Europeans and we as well," said Ms Rice.
Mr Fini, who has recently returned from Moscow, said Russia could be asked to use its influence over Damascus to rein in Syria. For instance, he said, "Moscow can ask Damascus to control the border between Syria and Iraq" and to persuade states in the region to adopt a more "coherent" behaviour to allow Israel "enjoy its right to security".
Ms Rice, speaking before heading for Paris, also made a strong appeal to Arab states to back the Middle East process.
She said "regional actors" must follow the lead of Egypt and Jordan in supporting the talks, and called on Gulf states to provide the funding that has been pledged to underwrite the effort.
The US official said that if they all lent their support "then we really would have a chance this time for not just a peace between Israelis and Palestinians, but a comprehensive peace for all the people of the Middle East".
Ms Rice later held discussions with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano, before flying to Paris. A planned audience with Pope John Paul was cancelled because of the pontiff's illness.
Nor did she meet as expected with staunch Bush ally Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian prime minister, who has been suffering from flu since the weekend.
SYRIAN REACTION: Syria lashed out at Condoleezza Rice over her threat to isolate Damascus, saying it was designed to serve Israel.
"Accusing Syria of terrorism is not new, and although the United States knows Syria is cooperating on this, it nevertheless continues to demand more," Radio Damascus said in a commentary.
Washington's demands, voiced by Ms Rice or anyone else, "have the sole aim to please Israel, which thinks that (Lebanese-Syrian) unity threatens its security".
"By calling resistance movements terrorist (organizations), the administration of President George Bush violates a legitimate right of the UN charter," the radio added.-AFP