WASHINGTON (AP) – Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says it is too early to tell if Washington and Damascus can improve frosty relations although a senior U.S. official was meeting with the Syrian ambassador Thursday.

Syrian Ambassador Imad Moustapha was meeting with Jeffrey Feltman, the acting assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, at Feltman’s request.

Clinton said the meeting was routine. But it was the first such session since September. The State Department has said the meeting reflects Clinton’s interest in talking directly with Syria and other countries at odds with the United States.

Clinton said Friday that “it is too early to tell” whether relations will improve.