Syria and Israel officially confirm peace talks
"Israel and Syria are holding indirect peace talks, with Turkey acting as a mediator, both countries confirmed officially for the first time today.
The nations have "indicated they want to lead these negotiations in a serious spirit so as to reach a comprehensive peace agreement", a spokesman for Israel's prime minister, Ehud Olmert, said.
Syria's foreign ministry confirmed the country was holding "indirect peace talks with Israel under Turkish auspices", Reuters reported......
Another Israeli government official, speaking anonymously, said today that Olmert's chief of staff and diplomatic adviser had been in Turkey since Monday, as had their Syrian counterparts. He gave no details of any talks.
According to Olmert's spokesman, contact began in February 2007 when the Israeli prime minister visited Turkey.......
The indirect contacts have seemingly continued even after Israeli military planes attacked an installation in Syria in September last year. Israel has refused to comment on the raid but the US said last month that the target was an unfinished Syrian nuclear plant being built with North Korean assistance.
In his comments to the Qatar-based al-Watan newspaper last month, Assad said the Turkish-brokered talks had seen Israel offer to withdraw from the Golan Heights in return for a peace treaty with Syria, but that there would be no direct negotiations between the nations until a new US president took office next year [what difference will that make?].
It is unclear how much of the Golan Heights Israel is willing to cede, or the extent of withdrawal demanded by Syria........"
"Israel and Syria are holding indirect peace talks, with Turkey acting as a mediator, both countries confirmed officially for the first time today.
The nations have "indicated they want to lead these negotiations in a serious spirit so as to reach a comprehensive peace agreement", a spokesman for Israel's prime minister, Ehud Olmert, said.
Syria's foreign ministry confirmed the country was holding "indirect peace talks with Israel under Turkish auspices", Reuters reported......
Another Israeli government official, speaking anonymously, said today that Olmert's chief of staff and diplomatic adviser had been in Turkey since Monday, as had their Syrian counterparts. He gave no details of any talks.
According to Olmert's spokesman, contact began in February 2007 when the Israeli prime minister visited Turkey.......
The indirect contacts have seemingly continued even after Israeli military planes attacked an installation in Syria in September last year. Israel has refused to comment on the raid but the US said last month that the target was an unfinished Syrian nuclear plant being built with North Korean assistance.
In his comments to the Qatar-based al-Watan newspaper last month, Assad said the Turkish-brokered talks had seen Israel offer to withdraw from the Golan Heights in return for a peace treaty with Syria, but that there would be no direct negotiations between the nations until a new US president took office next year [what difference will that make?].
It is unclear how much of the Golan Heights Israel is willing to cede, or the extent of withdrawal demanded by Syria........"
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