More talks with Syria, despite political turmoil
Despite Olmert's decision to step down from office, and despite Syria's flagrant disregard for calls to disengage Iran – Israel, Syrian officials scheduled to meet in Turkey later this month for new round of negotiations
After wrapping up his visit to Tehran, Syrian President Bashar Assad will touch down in Ankara on Tuesday for a meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The meeting will take place ahead of the expected fifth round of talks between Israel in Syria, which will take place in the coming
weeks.
The current delay in the talks reportedly stems from Washington's refusal to send representative on its behalf, as the Syrians want.
The Turkish-mediated negotiations will be renewed despite Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's decision to relinquish the premiership once a successor is elected from within his own party. The announced resignation of his chief of staff, Yoram Turbowicz, will also not affect the talks.
Jerusalem is remaining mum on any progress achieved in the tentative negotiations. However, senior Israeli sources have voiced their satisfaction with the process. Despite Olmert's explicit desire to progress into direct negotiations, Damascus has thus far refused to do so.
Diplomatic officials in Jerusalem told Ynet that no significant progress is to be expected in the new round of talks.
This, they say, is due to Olmert's political weakness. Assad's recent visit to Tehran and his meetings with numerous Iranian leaders has also dampened Jerusalem's optimism.
"Damascus is still lingering between the axis of evil and the West," said an official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
