Olmert and Gul in Ankara
Photo: Reuters
Olmert: Israel will respond to rockets
Prime minister meets with Turkish president in Ankara to discuss indirect peace talks with Syria, declares that fire on southern residents must receive response; adds 'peace with Syria attainable, Turkey suitable mediator'
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is visiting Turkey in order to discuss the latter's mediation in the indirect peace talks between Israel and Syria, but Monday's meeting with President Abdullah Gul also focused on the ongoing fire from Gaza.
"Israel cannot refrain from responding to the criminal fire on its citizens," Omert told Gul during their meeting in Ankara.
Regarding negotiations with Syria he said, "Peace with Syria is attainable. I always thought Turkey would be a very suitable mediator." Olmert is also scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Syrian President Bashar Assad said earlier that he believes direct peace talks with Israel are possible and that they will eventually take place.
Assad added that indirect negotiations alone cannot achieve peace between the two enemies. "It is natural that at a later stage we will reach direct talks," he said Monday at a joint press conference with visiting Croatian counterpart.
