Washington, Feb 18, SPA -- A group of U.S. lawmakers led by Senator Ben Cardin (Democrat from Maryland) arrived in Syria on Tuesday as part of a trip that will also include stops in Israel and Europe. The delegation left the United States on Thursday, with plans to meet Israeli and Palestinian Authority representatives in Jerusalem. In Damascus, the group is scheduled to talk with Syrian President Bashar Assad and Foreign Minister Walid Mualem Talks will focus on the peace process and U.S.-Syrian bilateral relations. The lawmakers also plan to visit the United Nations High Commission for Refugees facility in Damascus to assess the situation of Iraqi refugees in Syria. Cardin will lead the delegation in his capacity as chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission – the U.S. branch of an alliance of parliamentary human rights monitors that reports to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The group will finish up their trip with a stop in Vienna where the OSCE will be meeting. Accompanying Cardin are Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (Democrat from Rhode Island), Roger Wicker (Republican from Mississippi) and Tom Udall (Democrat from New Mexico) and Representatives Mike McIntyre (Democrat from North Carolina) and Gwen Moore (Democrat from Wisconsin).--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/636730