Turkey: Israel, Syria committed to peace

Though Paris summit left them estranged, Turkish Foreign Minister Babacan claims Olmert, Assad ready to talk; adds fourth round of talks to be held 'in a few weeks'
AFP

Turkey believes that both Israel and Syria are committed to peace, Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said Wednesday ahead of a fourth round of indirect talks between the two sides under Turkish auspices.

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"The talks so far took place in a sincere and constructive atmosphere," Babacan said in an interview on NTV television. "Our prevailing opinion is that both parties have a genuine political will to reach a settlement."

A date was set for a fourth round of indirect talks in Istanbul, Babacan said, but declined to disclose it, saying only that they would be held "in a few weeks."

Under the format of the talks, Israeli and Syrian officials don't see each other and Turkish diplomats shuttle between them. Babacan said the success of the talks would have wider regional impact and could lead to peace talks also between Israel and Lebanon.

The Israeli-Syrian talks started in May after an eight-year freeze. The latest round was held in early July. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert held indirect talks through Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Paris on Sunday on the sidelines of a summit to launch a Mediterranean union.

Syria said in May it had received Israeli commitment for full withdrawal from the Golan Heights it seized four decades ago, although Israeli officials have been tight-lipped on the controversial issue.

Olmert has said Israel is willing to make "major concessions," seen as a reference to the Golan Heights, seized in the Six-Day War and annexed in 1981 - a move never recognized by the international community.