Syrian minister confirms: Olmert expressed willingness to cede Golan

Syrian cabinet minister confirms Arab media reports, says PM Olmert agreed to withdraw from Golan heights in exchange for peace; meanwhile, Syrian foreign minister says nothing should stop resumption of peace talks

Reuters and Dudi Cohen
Latest Update: 04.23.08, 21:45 / Israel News

Official confirmation from Syria: Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has told Turkey that Israel is willing to cede the Golan Heights in return for peace with Damascus, a Syrian cabinet minister confirmed Wednesday.

"Olmert is ready for peace with Syria on the grounds of international conditions; on the grounds of the return of the Golan Heights in full to Syria," Expatriates Minister Buthaina Shaaban told al-Jazeera television.

Does Olmert see peace on the horizon? (Photo: Reuters)

Meanwhile, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem said Wednesday evening that there is no reason why peace talks between Israel and Syria should not be restarted

"If Israel is serious and wants to achieve peace, then there is nothing that should stop peace talks from being renewed," Muallem said during a peace conference in Tehran after meting with his Iranian counterpart, Manouchehr Mottaki.

'Withdrawal to June 4th borders'

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However, the Syrian minister said talks should resume only as long as "they don't negatively affect the process with the Palestinians.

Muallem also indirectly addressed reports regarding the willingness of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to withdraw from the Golan Heights in exchange for a peace treaty with Syria.

"If Israel is committed to a withdrawal to the June 4th borders, there is no reason to prevent the resumption of talks."

According to Iranian news agency IRNA, Muallem and his Iranian counterpart discussed several issues and mostly focused on the questions of Iraq and the Palestinians. On Thursday, the Syrian foreign minister is expected to meet Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Earlier, Damascus-based website Shams Press was joined by a report in Syrian newspaper al-Watan, which claimed that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Syrian President Bashar Assad on Tuesday and informed him of Olmert's willingness to fully withdraw from the Golan Heights in exchange for a peace agreement.

The reports were harshly slammed by several Knesset Members, including Yuval Steinitz (Likud) who blasted what he termed "unprecedented irresponsibility on Olmert's part both politically and defense-wise."

First Published: 04.23.08, 21:27

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