Syria's Intentions Slowly Coming Clear?

This story was written by CBS News' George Baghdadi, reporting from Paris.

The United States and its European allies have serious concerns over the Syrian government's behavior.

The main issues troubling Western leaders include Damascus' strong alliance with Tehran; its clandestine nuclear program; its alleged support of terrorism - particularly allowing foreign fighters into Iraq; interference in neighboring Lebanon and a lack of internal reforms. The list goes on.

Relations between France and Syria have been strained since the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in a February 2005 bombing in Beirut, blamed widely on Damascus.

Paris decided to shun Syrian officials after the murder, particularly in light of then-French-President Jacques Chirac's strong personal ties to Hariri. Syria has consistently denied any involvement in the killing.

Since his election, French President Nicolas Sarkozy has taken the lead, inviting Assad to join some 40 other foreign leaders for the Sunday launch of the new Union for the Mediterranean, aimed at boosting cooperation between the European Union and Mediterranean rim states.

The Syrian leader, accompanied by several of his ministers and his wife Asma, will stay in Paris after the summit for France's Bastille Day celebrations. He will watch the massive military parade pass from the iconic Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde; his very presence truly unthinkable only a few weeks ago.

Syrian opposition groups have called for a rally in Paris on July 13, the day before the parade, to demand an end to the "arbitrary arrest of intellectuals and political opponents," and for human rights reforms in Syria.

France, which assumed the presidency of the European Union this month, has indicated Assad's invitation was a just reward for Assad's help in brokering a power-sharing deal between rival politicians in Lebanon - ending a political stalemate that threatened the stability of the entire region.

"The Syrian president is not a perfect example in terms of respect for human rights, but he is making efforts," said one French presidential aide.

Assad, who was only 34 when he took power from his father Hafez in 2000, has turned out to be an incisive strategist who knows how to play his cards quite well.

After months of strained relations, Assad is expected to meet Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Paris on Saturday. Mubarak refused to attend a March Arab summit held in the Syrian capital.

Analysts say Damascus has made several diplomatic moves lately which have helped it break a long period of global isolation.

Assad recently allowed a team of U.N. inspectors to visit a remote building site that was bombed by Israel in September. U.S. officials and, off the record, Israel, claim it was a plutonium-producing reactor in the works.

Syria also used its influence with the Damascus-based Hamas group to help forge a ceasefire between the Islamic militant movement - which governs the Gaza Strip - and Israel. And, most significantly, Damascus agreed to hold indirect, Turkish-mediated talks with Israel to determine the fate of the disputed Golan Heights. The talks are expected to be upgraded soon to face-to-face negotiations after an eight year freeze.

Some analysts suggest that the new Union of the Mediterranean, which has generated resistance from some of France's vital allies, including Germany and Spain, may be more theater than substance.

But the meeting, and Sarkozy's new attitude toward Damascus, will have at least one very visible outcome: Syrian and Israeli leaders together in the same place - though seated opposite each other, according to the alphabetical table arrangements.

Assad has rejected the notion of a direct meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on the sidelines of the Paris summit, saying such a meeting would be "premature."

But, the Syrian leader did welcome the French "break," and in an interview with French daily Le Figaro on Tuesday he invited Paris to play a direct role in eventual talks between Damascus and Tel Aviv. Officials from within the Syrian government tell CBS News that Damascus will soon send an ambassador to Paris for the first time in two years.

"My impression is that (Sarkozy) is enthusiastic about these negotiations and wants France to play a direct role," Assad declared. "If he confirms it to me, I will immediately invite him to support directly this peace process."

Assad and his foreign minister have repeatedly asked for U.S. involvement in these negotiations. The Americans, however, have been reluctant to open up to Damascus until it makes a firm commitment to disengage from Tehran, as well as from anti-Israel Palestinian and Lebanese groups declared "terrorists organizations" by Washington.

Many analysts say the moment Syria decided to publicize the negotiations, it began the process of distancing itself from Tehran - although Syrian and Iranian officials readily deny their relationship is jeopardized by the prospect of a Syria-Israel deal.

"Ideologically, the secular Baathist Arab regime in Syria has little in common with Iran's Persian and Shiite Islamic revolutionary leaders," long-time Middle East expert Amir Teheri told CBS News.

"There is no doubt Damascus would change its course if there were other options on the table for it to choose," added Teheri, an Iranian analyst based in London. "There is no doubt Damascus is anxious not to put all its eggs in the Iranian basket."