QUESTION:  President Chavez is going to be in Syria tomorrow.  What do you think of this visit?  He's supposed to speak about bilateral relation and the situation in the region.

MR. CASEY:  Well, you know, all countries are free to establish or maintain whatever bilateral relations they want with other countries and that's for them to decide.  Certainly, we think what's important for anyone having discussions with the Syrian Government to do is to emphasize the need for Syria to meet its international obligations.  And that includes complying with its longstanding obligations under UN Security Council Resolution 1559, as well as the additional ones placed upon it in Resolution 1701.

QUESTION:  Do you see this visit as a provocation for -- against you?

MR. CASEY:  I see it as a decision made by the Venezuelan Government about their relations with Syria, and you would have to talk to them about the reasons for it.