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Last update - 14:08 14/07/2008 Iran decries contacts between Syria and 'illegitimate' Israel By Haaretz Service and News Agencies Tags: Iran, Syria, Israel, France Iran is unhappy about ongoing indirect talks between Syria and Israel and believes that any ensuing peace agreement would lead to radical changes in Syrian-Iranian relations, an Iranian official said in remarks published Monday. Hussein Shariatmadari, an advisor to Iran's spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, told the pan-Arab newspaper Asharq al-Awsat that Tehran was unhappy that Islamic countries like Syria and Turkey were holding talks with Israel. Advertisement "We always say there is no country called Israel in the region. This country is called Palestine. So, it is normal that we reject any negotiations between an Islamic state, like Syria or Turkey, and an illegitimate, non-existent state," Shariatmadari said. Israel and Syria announced last month that they had agreed to hold indirect peace talks through Turkish mediation. At the heart of the negotiations is the return by Israel to Syria of the Golan Heights, a strategic plateau captured by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War. "Negotiations over prisoner exchange does not mean that Hezbollah recognizes Israel. Hamas too, like Iran and Hezbollah, does not recognize a thing called Israel. A truce agreement is not a recognition of the state of Israel," the Iranian official said. Relations between Syria and Iran will be subject to radical changes if Damascus signs a peace agreement with Israel, Shariatmadari said but added that this was his personal view. "But I think that the signing of such an agreement would be also against the opinion of Iran, the Iranian government and the Iranian people," he added. Syrian President Bashar Assad has said that Damascus would establish normal relations, including the opening of embassies, if a peace agreement was sealed with Israel. Assad made his comments on Sunday in Paris, where he attended the inauguration of an EU-Mediterranean union that brings together northern and southern countries that ring the sea, including Syria and Israel. French envoy backs tougher Iran sanctions French Ambassador to Israel Jean-Michel Casa was quoted as saying Monday that more intensive sanctions against Tehran could lead to regime change for Iran. "If Iranian products are boycotted all over the world, the public in Iran will begin to say to itself that the nuclear program is unnecessary, and the regime may begin to behave more logically," Army Radio quoted Casa as saying. In an interview on the occasion of Bastille Day, France's independence day, Casa told the radio that "France, like Israel and the international community, thinks that there are two things which should be avoided: nuclear weaponry in Iranian hands, and another catastrophe, launching a military operation against it.. According to Casa, those who speak to Iran must do so "with determination, and go with much more efficient sanctions." Regarding negotiations between Syria and Israel, the French ambassador voiced hope that by the beginning of the coming year, contacts between the sides could bring about a visit by Assad to the Knesset, or a visit by President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to Damascus. "Assad has spoken of direct negotiations at the end of this year or perhaps at the beginning of next year," Casa said. 'Assad could visit Knesset in 2009' In a reference to the French-sponsored conference of Mediterranean states, in which both Olmert and Assad took part but did not shake each other's hands, Casa said that "Even if not everyone met as we would have wanted, face-to-face, it was important that everyone came to the same place." The leaders of Syria and Israel, as well as the Palestinian and Lebanese presidents, together marked Bastille Day on Monday in a diplomatic coup for French President Nicolas Sarkozy. "Don't forget that we were nearly in a military incident this summer, and [there was] also the story according to which Israel bombed in Syria in September," Casa added, in a reference to military tensions in the north and widespread reports that the Israel Air Force destroyed a suspected nuclear facility last year. "That was certainly something, even if the talks are not taking place directly." Bookmark to del.icio.us   Farewell ambassador Even the Arab envoys came to say goodbyeto Israel's UN ambassador Dan Gillerman. A tale of two mothers Israeli documentary 'To Die in Jerusalem' earns three Emmy nominations.   1.   MR. CASA SHOWS LITTLE OR NO 13:51  |  Robert 14/07/08   2.   Erase yourselfe 14:17  |  Keops 14/07/08   3.   IF IRAN IS UNHAPPY WITH ASSAD 14:40  |  Robert 14/07/08   4.   Iran will be destroyed by Israel! Thank God! 15:22  |  petra 14/07/08   5.   Iran decries contacts.... 15:26  |  David Nigel Braham 14/07/08   6.   Syria`s relationship with Iran. 15:37  |  Jean Van Daem 14/07/08   7.   Make peasce with Syria, then 15:51  |  Fishleg 14/07/08   8.   Ludicrous 16:10  |  utagawa 14/07/08   9.   Sanctions are a Joke. Europe encourages trade with Iran 16:12  |  Liliane 14/07/08   10.   Iranians do not have to meddle in Arab business 16:16  |  Kamel B. 14/07/08   11.   MULLAHS are getting worried.The dictators days may be numbered 16:59  |  PETER SM 14/07/08   12.   Would Olmert criticals admit he`s strategical smarter then them? 19:09  |  Marco 14/07/08   13.   Olmerts peace efforts are the best diplomacy Israel Ever had. 19:11  |  Marco 14/07/08   14.   All the More Reason to Continue Talks With Syria 19:43  |  Dan 14/07/08   15.   Ahmadinedjead is jealous of Olmert 19:54  |  Othello 14/07/08   16.   IRAN VOCALS WHAT EVERYBODY THINKS 19:55  |  indrajaya 14/07/08   17.   Yes, everyone thinks like him 20:15  |  Psychologist 14/07/08   18.   The heart of the matter 20:44  |  Morris Valentine 14/07/08   19.   This whole region, whether its Israel, Syria, Iran, US, etc 20:45  |  An American View 14/07/08   20.   To Indrajaya 20:49  |  O 14/07/08   21.   To Indrajaya 20:53  |  Otto Rand 14/07/08   22.   To Indrajaya 20:54  |  Otto Rand 14/07/08   23.   IRAN is on ISREAL`s PROPERTY 21:00  |  Fred 14/07/08   24.   For Indrajaya 21:09  |  Richard 14/07/08   25.   Indrajaya # 16 21:17  |  Bill H. 14/07/08   26.   Indrajaya: Realities 21:35  |  History 14/07/08   27.   reply to Indrajaya, no. 16 21:42  |  Sam C 14/07/08   28.   NOTE Iranian general again talks about how long his one is 21:49  |  PETER SM 14/07/08   29.   No indrajaya, you`re the only one who believes this crap 22:02  |  Igor D. 14/07/08   30.   Israel and Iran 22:14  |  Vectencian 14/07/08   31.   Wrong diagnosis 22:15  |  Jewish Playboy 14/07/08   32.   Retard who posted #16. 22:34  |  Made In The USA 14/07/08   33.   whinge till ye burn 22:55  |  frenz 14/07/08   34.   Made in the USA - I am offended 00:12  |  Retard 15/07/08   35.   18 Morris Valentine,israel is in non compliance of UN resolutions 00:40  |  lakshmi 15/07/08   36.   English major that posted #32 01:09  |  schafe82 15/07/08   37.   #32 01:10  |  schafe82 15/07/08   38.   History 01:17  |  schafe82 15/07/08   39.   All Lies! Use The Neutron Bomb On Iran AND Syria Already! 01:59  |  Ethan 15/07/08   40.   Shariatmadari has NO official or semi-officail positons in Iran 04:28  |  ManintheMiddle 15/07/08   41.   Idrayoyo 04:43  |  Rambo 15/07/08   42.   # 23 to fred in canada... 06:31  |  eric 15/07/08   43.   of course iran`s unhappy! which is why assad... 07:03  |  eric 15/07/08   44.   To Lakshmi (#35) 08:04  |  Morris Valentine 15/07/08   45.   44 Morris Valentine,israel `lives`on Occupied territory! 13:44  |  lakshmi 15/07/08   46.   To Lakshmi (#44): I 15:37  |  Morris Valentine 15/07/08   47.   To Lakshmi (#44): II 15:45  |  Morris Valentine 15/07/08   48.   46&47,israel was admitted to the UN on condition of 03:55  |  lakshmi 16/07/08   49.   To Lakshmi (#48) 05:57  |  Morris Valentine 16/07/08   50.   49 Morris Valentine,whatever the American saying,israel was 13:09  |  lakshmi 16/07/08   51.   To Lakshmi: Last thuoghts on this thread 05:53  |  Morris Valentine 17/07/08   52.   51 Morris Valentine,second try.It is you who do not understand 14:52  |  lakshmi 18/07/08   53.   To Lakshmi (#52) 06:08  |  Morris Valentine 19/07/08

Read & React Samir Kuntar: I'm yearning more than ever to confront Israel Responses: 257 Shalit talks hit impasse as Hamas hangs on to 'asset' Responses: 135 Marco Greenberg: The real story of anti-Semitism in the U.S. Responses: 156 ANALYSIS / What does Nasrallah mean by 'defense strategy'? Responses: 92 David Landau: Olmert has walked right into Nasrallah's trap Responses: 41 Rosner's Domain What will Obama look for in Jerusalem (and Ramallah)? Is there a crisis in U.S.-Lebanon relations? (WTR) Do U.S. Jews really support 'necessary compromises' for peace? Why does Israel keep agreeing to prisoner swaps? More Headlines 23:27 VIDEO: What Talansky said about Olmert in his testimony 19:54 Report: Obama's planned visit to Mideast raises serious security concerns 20:56 Spat between Jews and Muslims sours Saudi interfaith summit 21:59 Six arrested in Israel for allegedly plotting attack on Bush 13:38 Israeli film on mothers of suicide bomber, victim tapped for 3 Emmys 08:36 Shalit talks deadlocked as Hamas hangs on to 'asset' 09:15 This hyphenated life, post two / Jew me down 16:50 Teva to buy U.S. drug giant for $7.5B in biggest ever purchase by Israeli company 00:47 Samir Kuntar: I'm yearning more than ever to confront Israel 05:55 ANALYSIS / What does Nasrallah mean by 'defense strategy'? 07:25 Rabbis felt emotional difficulty in identifying remains 18:37 Even the Arab envoys came to bid farewell to Israel's UN ambassador 12:44 Serbia setting up case against alleged Nazi unit member living in U.S. 23:06 Girl, 16, arrested for pimping out 13-year-old neighbor Previous Editions Select Day 18 jul 17 jul 16 jul 15 jul 14 jul 13 jul 11 jul 10 jul 09 jul 08 jul 07 jul 06 jul

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