Erdogan with Olmert
Photo: Amos Ben Gershom, GPO
Erdogan and Assad
Photo: AP
Olmert headed for Turkey to advance Syria talks
Prime minister schedules meeting with Turkish counterpart mediating indirect negotiations with Syria in hopes of progressing to direct talks. Syrians awaiting Israel's response on territorial demands
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is scheduled to travel to Turkey on Monday for a visit with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has been acting as a mediator in indirect talks between Israel and Syria.
Over the past two weeks the two leaders have discussed over the phone the issues on the agenda between Israel and Syria, including a document that the Syrians transferred to the Turks detailing their territorial demands from Israel.
Peace Talks
Sources familiar with unofficial Israel-Syria talks says Damascus has drafted paper defining Golan Heights boundaries, waiting for Israeli reply through Turkish mediators. 'Document puts us on the water (of Lake Kinneret),' Syrian official says
Olmert and Erdogan last spoke Wednesday evening, when the upcoming meeting was agreed upon.
Olmert is eager to show progress in the diplomatic process with Syria before his term in office comes to an end in about two months.
One possible option that was suggested is that direct talks between Israel and Syria be launched after Monday's meeting.
At this point, however, the possibility of a meeting between the Israeli prime minister and a Syrian representative in Turkey has been ruled out and Olmert will return to Israel immediately after his meeting with Erdogan.
Earlier this week, sources in Damascus said Syria submitted to the Turkish mediators a document detailing the border agreement demanded by Syria in the Golan Heights, and is waiting for a response from Israel.
According to a Syrian source, "The document states that we will be on the shore of the Sea of Galilee." In his upcoming meeting, Olmert may provide the Turks with a response to these demands.
The Syrian document sets the boundaries with reference to six geographical points.
"The president was clear that Syria wants to know the Israeli view about what constitutes occupied Syrian territory before progress could be made," the source said.
"According to Syrian thinking, Israeli agreement on the six (geographical) points could help seal a peace deal next year. But Israel may not be able to provide a response any time soon, when it is in such political turmoil," a second source added.
