Second round of talks with Syria end on positive note

Olmert aides Turgeman, Turbovich complete second round of talks with Syria through Turkish mediation, return to Israel with positive message about future of peace negotiations

Israeli representatives on Monday finished the second round of indirect talks with their Syrian counterparts through Turkish mediation. The representatives told the Prime Minister's Office that the talks "had a positive and constructive atmosphere."

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's aides, Yoram Turbovich and Shalom Turgeman, left for Turkey on Saturday night. Following the meetings the two notified Olmert that "there had been a reiteration of the common will to continue with the talks. Regular meetings were agreed upon, and two more dates were determined for meetings during the next few weeks."

Unlike the first round of talks held last month, this time the representatives discussed the content of the peace talks, rather than just the procedure of the negotiations. However the subjects discussed were not revealed, nor was the location of the talks. The general issues on the negotiating table are said to be the future of the Golan Heights, security arrangements, water, civil agreements, and more.

"Olmert has already stated that he is ready for talks with Arab leaders," an official in Jerusalem said. "He also said he would be attending the peace conference in Paris, but this event is unrelated to the second round of talks completed tonight." Turgeman and Turbovich are currently making their way to Paris.

Olmert's delegation was not optimistic about the chances of Assad agreeing to meet the prime minister at this stage, an Israeli political source said: "The assessment in Israel is that he (Assad) would first need something concrete in hand."

Both Olmert and Assad are expected to attend a July 13 summit of a new union of European and

Mediterranean countries in Paris. Olmert, who sent aides to resume talks in Turkey on Saturday, has offered to meet Assad on the event's sidelines, Israeli political sources said.

The indirect talks between Israel and Syria began in February of 2007, while the prime minister was visiting Ankara. During a private meeting with counterpart Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the two arranged Turkish mediation between the two sides, with the goal of reaching a peace agreement.

Reuters contributed to this report