Besides, Turkey's Erdogan has mediated indirect peace talks between Syria and Israel for four rounds since May and Qatar's Emir brokered an agreement between rival Lebanese parties in Doha in May.

"They are important regional players and a bridge between the East and the West," said al-Watan.

Damascus has been marginalized by the West for its alleged involvement in the assassination of former Lebanese Premier Rafik Hariri in Feb. 2005, an accusation denied by the Arab country.

Isolation melts gradually

France, together with the United States, which has imposed economic sanctions on Syria since 2004, led international pressure against Damascus and efforts for the creation of a UN investigation and a UN-backed tribunal on suspects of the Hariri case.

Paris was also instrumental in forcing Syrian troops out of Lebanon in 2005, ending its nearly three-decade military presence there.

Sarkozy, however, has switched the policy after he became president in 2007 to renew high-level ties, although the United States continues its isolation, still viewing Syria as a state supporting terrorism.

The policy towards Damascus changed particularly after the Qatar-brokered agreement in May to elect Michel Suleiman as Lebanese president, ending a long-lasting political crisis there. Damascus was deemed to have played a constructive role in reaching the pact.

In August, Syria and Lebanon declared to establish diplomatic ties and demarcate their borders, an encouraging move urged by the West for many years.

On the other hand, Syria has conducted four rounds of indirect peace talks with Israel through Turkey's mediation since May, which was seen as positive signals by Damascus.