Assad, 'No partner'
Photo: AP
Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon
Photo: Reuters
Syria insists on Turkish mediation in peace talks
In response to deputy foreign minister's shutting door on indirect peace talks with Damascus, Syrian ambassador to Turkey insists mediator necessary, says may help 'Syria become more flexible'
In response to Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon's comments that Israel will not resume Turkish-mediated peace talks with Damascus, but is only wiling to hold direct talks, Syrian Ambassador to Turkey Nidal Kablan said his country would not give up on the Turkish mediation.
Kablan told London-based al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper that Ayalon's comments were "meant for local consumption, and to hide that fact that Israel is not interested in peace."
He added that "Syria insists on its demands regardless of the mediator, and the elements of the negotiations have not changed."
Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert held indirect talks with Syria last year, which came to a halt due to Israel's Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed his willingness to return to the negotiations table with Syria, but this time, without any mediators.
Syrian President Bashar Assad said he was pessimistic about the chances of reaching an agreement with what he called the "extreme rightist" government.
The Syrian ambassador stressed that his country would not back down on its demands for mediated talks, and that direct talks will only be possible "when conditions allow for it", and under US patronage.
He said the mediation body's role was critical, and that "Syria may be more flexible with a Turkish mediator than with another mediator due to the nature of the ties between the two parties".
Kablan added that President Assad's stance that there is no real partner for peace was clear, and that Israel should prove that it is interested in peace. "Israel cannot pose conditions – neither internal, nor external."
