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Turkey: There's a long way to go before Israeli-Syrian peace

Turkish foreign minister says agreement between longtime enemies requires 'strong political determination' on both sides

Turkey's foreign minister said Monday there was still a lot to achieve before any peace agreement between Israel and Syria.

 

Ali Babacan told reporters Monday that an agreement between the longtime enemies requires "strong political determination" on both sides.

 

Turkey, which has close ties to both Israel and Syria, has disclosed that it is trying to restart low-level talks between the two countries as a prelude to bringing the leaders of Syria and Israel together.

 

The last round of direct peace talks between the two countries broke down in 2000 over the details of Israel's proposed withdrawal from the Golan Heights.

 

A senior Israeli official said Sunday that peace with Syria was in Israel's interests, on the condition that Damascus is cut off from the axis of evil.

 

However, the official stressed that negotiations could take time and required patience, and that while the Turkish channel betweenIsrael and Syria did exist, expectations regarding the issue should be kept realistic.

 

"If Syria breaks away from the axis of evil, if the transfer of arms to Hizbullah is halted and if Jihad and Hamas bases are removed from Damascus – this will constitute progress, and not all this talk and decelerations," he stated.

 

According to the official, "If Israel will be required to pay the price in question, namely ceding the Golan Heights, without getting anything in return – then we have gained nothing."

 


פרסום ראשון: 04.28.08, 13:55
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