 |
 |
 |
|
|
Assad keeps his guests in the hot seat, even when they need to go to the bathroom.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| By Israel Insider staff June 11, 2008 |
|
| |
 Bookmark to del.icio.us |
| |
A senior Syrian official said Tuesday that direct peace negotiations would not be held with Israel until it agrees to the full return of the Golan Heights captured from Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War. Indirect talks between Syria and Israel are due to resume soon in Turkey, which has served as mediator between the two sides since last year.
The Damascus government and Israel had kept secret the details of the talks until a joint announcement several weeks ago. Israel has conditioned any deal with Syria on the Baath regime distancing itself from Iran and severing ties with the Hezbollah and Hamas terrorist groups.
"It is too early to resume direct talks. There are conditions," Syria's Deputy Foreign Minister Fayssal al-Mekdad insisted in a meeting with reporters. "I hope Israel responds to the requirements of peace, which are the end of the occupation of Palestine and the establishment of a Palestinian state, restoration of the Syrian Golan and pull out of remaining occupied Lebanese territory," he added.
Previous talks under U.S. auspices collapsed in 2000 over the scope of a proposed Israeli withdrawal from the Golan. Syria claimed that Israeli concession did not not equal the whole territory. "Our goal is an Israeli withdrawal from all the lands of the Syrian Republic. This is the basis for launching direct talks," said Mekdad, a main player in Syrian foreign policy.
Syrian officials, like their counterparts, are keenly aware that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's legal difficulties may force him out of office, scuttling the talks. Olmert said last month that Israel had made no commitment to Syria to withdraw from the Golan.
"When talks move to direct talks that would be a sign of significant progress," said Olmert's spokesman Mark Regev. Syrian President Bashar Assad has rejected Israeli demands that Syria abandon its alliance with Iran as a requirement for a peace deal. Assad said Syria intended to maintain "normal relations" with Iran while it conducts the indirect talks.
|
|
 
|
|
|
|
Click on the blue headline to read a Talkback comment and respond to it. Click on the  icon to send a private email to the talkback writer. The icon appears only if the writer has decided to be contacted. If no popup window appears, please make sure your popup blocker allows israelinsider.com.
|
|
| |
|
|
