Rice and Olmert in Jerusalem
Photo: Moshe Millner, GPO
Olmert, Rice want Syria to participate in Annapolis conference
Leaders meet in Jerusalem to discuss possibility of having Damascus take part in upcoming peace summit. Jerusalem officials stress that such participation depends on Syria's recognition of Quartet's demands
Israel and the United States would like to see Syria participate in the Annapolis peace conference, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice agreed in a meeting Sunday.
The two leaders met in Jerusalem and discussed the possibility of including Syria in the summit. Rice has recently discussed the subject with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mouallem during their meeting in Turkey last week.
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The Prime Minister's Office stressed that Damascus' participation in the talks would only be made possible if the Syrians agree to focus on the Palestinian issue.
"If the Syrians are willing to accept the Quartet and international community's demands, Israel would be more than happy to have Syria take part in the conference," a senior PMO official stated.
No date has been set for the conference during Sunday's meeting, but Rice and Olmert agreed that the summit should follow the outline of the road map for peace.
