Babacan in Jerusalem: Assad wants to participate in peace conference

Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan told Presiden Peres that the Syrians are serious about peace in a meeting between the two men after the Turkish leader arrived in Israel from Syria on Sunday.

In his meeting with the Israeli statesman, the Turkish guest said that his meetings with Syrian officials were positive and practical.

"I encouraged the leaders to take part in Bush's international peace conference and they explicitly told me that they are interested in having Israeli-Syrian issues brought to the negotiating table at the conference," Babacan said.

President Peres responded by saying that if Assad is serious, Israel would be willing to engage in peace talks.

The Israeli leader also said that Syria is playing both sides. On one hand they are expressing interest in peace talks, but on the other they are supporting international terrorism by serving as an extremist "Iranian satellite," aiding Hizbullah and supporting efforts to bring down the government in Lebanon.

Recently, Turkey requested clarifications from Israel after discharged fuel canisters used in fighter jets were found in its territory near its border with Syria. Babacan added: "The area is currently in a very dangerous and delicate state. We are calling on all sides to reach a solution (to their grievances) through dialogue and other peaceful means."

The Syrian President recently referred to the Israeli raid and said: "We reserve the right to respond to the attack." He refused to explain how, when or where Syria plans to act on this right.

Turkey: We won't let Israel strike Syria

Turkey assured the Damascus government on Sunday it would not let Israel use its airspace to strike Syria after an Israeli raid heightened tension in the Middle East.

Diplomats said at least four Israeli planes flew in attack formation along the Syrian-Turkish border before striking deep into Syria on Sept 6. Syria and Israel have given little information on the target.

"Turkey will not let Turkish territory or airspace be used in any activity that could harm the security or safety of Syria," Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said after meeting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus on Sunday.

Babacan said he chose Syria as his first destination abroad since being named foreign minister in August to underline the importance of maintaining strong Turkish-Syrian ties.

The minister, a member of the Islamist-rooted AK party, repeated Turkey's assertions that Ankara had no prior knowledge of the Israeli raid, which Assad said had targeted an unused building linked to the Syrian military.