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Last update - 00:10 03/09/2008
Syria President: Door is open to peace with Israel
By The Associated Press
Tags: Syria, Israel, Assad 

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"Today there is a possibility of peace," Assad said. "But nonetheless, we cannot say that we are close to achieving peace. We are preparing for direct negotiations. When we reach that step, we will be able to say that we are approaching peace."

"Today, we can only say that we have opened the door to peace," he said, in remarks in Arabic that were dubbed over in French.

Turkey has mediated a series of indirect negotiations between Syria and Israel in a bid to get the sides to meet face-to-face and end their decades-old enmity. Assad said that direct talks in the future could happen with U.S., French and Turkish backing.

Despite his comments about potential peace, Assad said he believes that Israel could try to launch different attacks, maybe against Iran, and maybe also against Lebanon, and of course it could launch an attack on Syria. He said such attacks would have catastrophic results.

Direct Syrian-Israeli peace negotiations under U.S. sponsorship collapsed in 2000.

Assad said the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush started to remember that there was something called peace seven years into its term, and that a new administration could help smooth the process.

"Of course we have to wait for the new administration to know what its orientations are," he said. "Afterward we can speak of direct negotiations."

Assad spoke with France 3 before a visit by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, which is a sign of warming ties between the two countries. Sarkozy, the prime minister of Turkey and the emir of Qatar will hold a summit with Assad in Damascus on Thursday.

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      1.   To Assad - Golan? Not in your wildest Imagination..... 23:27  |  Dagma 02/09/08
      2.   Great News 00:07  |  Important 03/09/08
      3.   Dagma 00:09  |  HMSE 03/09/08
      4.   Not with Russian Missiles in your yard 00:32  |  Slappy 03/09/08
      5.   dagma 00:36  |  Axel 03/09/08
      6.   So you are prepared for conflict forever with Syria, Dagma? # 1 00:38  |  Clickfool 03/09/08
      7.   #1 00:40  |  ron 03/09/08
      8.   Pals first then the Syrians 00:41  |  Robert 03/09/08
      9.   How can there be peace When Peres & Kadima Weakens Israel Deterre 00:52  |  Joseph.E 03/09/08
      10.   # 4 slappy 03:20  |  Axel 03/09/08
      11.   Assad Has a Long Ways to Go & 03:30  |  Ron 03/09/08
      12.   The question is , which door...? 03:48  |  Stephen 03/09/08
      13.   Ahmedinejad`s not going to like what Assad said 05:49  |  Conroy 03/09/08
      14.   #2 Important 05:52  |  Conroy 03/09/08
      15.   Syria and the Golan ? we should remember the facts! 07:28  |  Jean Van Daem 03/09/08
      16.   To ron # 7 - GOLAN is historically JEWISH 07:56  |  Dagma 03/09/08
      17.   Enough words, show us some action! 08:14  |  Gili 03/09/08
      18.   A Door in exchange for the STRATEGIC GOLAN!!!! 08:33  |  Ben 03/09/08
      19.   No benefit from peace with Syria 09:32  |  Gregor 03/09/08
      20.   Let Syrian Dictator destroy Syria 09:57  |  Rick & TC 03/09/08
      21.   Should Olmert dare. 10:23  |  The Threadmill 03/09/08
      22.   10 reasons not to give golan to Syria! 10:50  |  Dr Eric 03/09/08
      23.   #15 Jean Van Daem 13:26  |  Jim 03/09/08
      24.   how can Israel trust .... 13:36  |  Daniela 03/09/08
      25.   #19 Dagma 13:42  |  Jim 03/09/08
      26.   Dr Eric, a few more additions to your Ten 13:53  |  Harvey 03/09/08
      27.   #17 Gili 13:59  |  Jim 03/09/08
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