Syrian President Bashar Assad
Photo: AFP
'Withdrawal from Golan basis for direct talks'
Syria plays down chances for cutting out Turkish middleman until Israel 'ends occupation of Palestine, restores Syrian Golan, pulls out of remaining occupied Lebanese territory'
A senior Syrian official said on Tuesday no direct negotiations will be held with Israel until it recognizes what Damascus regards as requirements for a deal.
Mekdad declined to confirm whether the talks will resume next week. He said the talks in Turkey "were in their infancy" and Syria hoped
that Israel was serious about reaching an agreement that would help stabilize the Middle East.
"I think it is too early to resume direct talks. There are conditions," Deputy Foreign Minister Fayssal al-Mekdad told reporters. "I hope Israel responds to the requirements of peace, which are the end of the occupation of Palestine and the establishment of a Palestinian state, restoration of the Syrian Golan and pull out of remaining occupied Lebanese territory," he added.
Look Who's Talking
Jerusalem sources report that Israeli, Syrian negotiating teams may meet as early as next week to resume peace talks on direct channels. PM's Office says no timeline has been set
Syrian officials are wary that Israel's interest in deal may be short-lived, with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert facing a corruption investigation that could force him out of office. "Our goal is an Israeli withdrawal from all the lands of the Syrian Republic. This is the basis for launching direct talks," said Mekdad, a main player in Syrian foreign policy.
Olmert said last month that Israel had made no commitment to Syria to pull out of the Golan Heights in the indirect talks that started in 2007. Israeli officials have said Israel favored moving to direct talks but it was unknown when that would happen.
"When talks move to direct talks that would be a sign of significant progress," said Olmert's spokesman Mark Regev.
Syrian President Bashar Assad recently dismissed Israeli demands that Syria abandon its alliance with Iran as a requirement for a peace deal. Assad said Syria intended to maintain "normal relations" with Iran while it conducts the indirect talks.
