Syrian FM Moallem
Photo: AP
Syria: US opposed to indirect Jerusalem-Damascus talks
FM Moallem tells Al-Jazeera 'we gathered from the Israelis themselves that the American administration is against the renewal of indirect talks', adding that Syria agree to allow Turkish, French, Russian reps at negotiations
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem said Tuesday that his country has received messages according to which Washington is against indirect talks between Damascus and Jerusalem.
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Moallem said in an interview with Al-Jazeera that his country agreed that French representatives be allowed at the talks, along with representatives from Turkey and Russia.
He added that "we gathered from the Israelis themselves that the American administration is against the renewal of indirect talks.
"If this is in fact the case, how will the US sponsor direct talks?"
Moallem's comments came in response to a recent report published in the London-based Arabic-language newspaper Al-Sharq al-Awsat saying that the indirect talks between Syria and Israel will resume in two weeks' time in Istanbul with the participation of a senior American delegate. According to the report, the American representative will take part in the talks as an observer.
Israeli officials denied the report on an American observer being sent to the talks. A source in Jerusalem said, "We are not aware of such a plan."
A senior source in Damascus refused to address the report directly, telling the newspaper that "Syria is not dealing with the arrival of an American observer to the indirect talks."
According to the source, "Syria does not believe that the United States, under the current regime, is interested in a peace process on the Syrian channel. The Syrians are looking to a future in which there will be a possibility to launch direct talks based on the principles we presented, and sponsored by the US, France, Turkey and any other interested elements."
