Syria's ambassador to the United States, Imad Moustapha, told the Associated Press Monday that peace is not possible this year because officials in the Bush administration believe that "chaos is constructive" in the Middle East. Moustapha was in Pittsburgh where he spoke at a university. The United States officially has suspended diplomatic relations with Syria, which it defines as a country supporting terrorism.

The envoy called last year's American-backed Middle East conference at Annapolis, Maryland an "exercise in public relations." He also stated that Hizbullah leaders will remain active in Syria despite the recent assassination of its mastermind terrorist, Imad Mughinyeh.