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.
"From the beginning of this ordeal, we have asked that the U.S.
and Syrian governments do all they can to locate and safely return
Austin to our family," the Tice family said in a statement
Thursday. "While we are disappointed that Austin has not been seen,
we are encouraged by the ongoing discussions between the U.S. and
Syria."
On a website created to provide updates about Mr. Tice and his
plight, his family said they haven't received any information from
his captors other than a video released after his capture in 2012.
The family couldn't be reached for comment Friday.
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.
Write to Felicia Schwartz at Felicia.Schwartz@wsj.com
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires