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Last update - 00:00 04/09/2008
Sarkozy gives Assad letter from Noam Shalit to his son Gilad
By Jack Khoury and Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondents, and The Associated Press
Tags: Bashar Assad, Nicolas Sarkozy 

French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Thursday passed a letter from Noam Shalit, the father of captured Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit, to Syrian President Bashar Assad, officials from Sarkozy's office said.

The officials, who were speaking anonymously in accordance with presidential policy, said the letter from Noam Shalit is to be handed over to the emir of Qatar, who is to pass it to Khaled Meshal, the Damascus-based leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Gilad Shalit has been held captive by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip for two years.
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French daily Le Monde reported Thursday that the French president would like Assad to lean on Meshal to forward the letter to the Hamas leadership in the Gaza Strip, so that it can deliver the letter to Gilad Shalit.

Sarkozy landed in Damascus on Wednesday to take part in a multilateral summit with heads of state from Turkey and Qatar.

Last month, Noam Shalit met with French officials, and asked for Sarkozy's help in winning his son's release. Shalit asked that Sarkozy discuss his son with Assad.

The Shalit family expects Sarkozy to address the matter during his visit to Syria, since Gilad is a French citizen, and Assad shelters Hamas' political leadership in Damascus, led by Khaled Meshal.

"Assad undoubtedly holds sway over the members of the Hamas political bureau, and can help advance the stuck negotiations," said members of the campaign to free Shalit.

The prime minister of Turkey, the president of France and the emir of Qatar are set to meet Thursday in Damascus with Assad, in a step that symbolizes an increase in Syria's power in the region and the end of the isolation that has been imposed on it.

Speaking at a press conference on the arrival of Sarkozy in Damascus on Wednesday, Assad denied that Syria was promoting a "new regional axis." However he stressed that all the participants in the summit were leading countries: France being the current president of the European Union, Syria as current chair of the Arab Summit, and Qatar as current chairman of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

One of the central issues the two presidents discussed was the Syria-Israel peace process. French sources told the Arab media outlets that the next round of talks between Syria and Israel would begin on Sunday in Turkey. Sources in Israel said this round would be critical in the formulation of a "declaration of principles" on which the parties are working, that in turn will form the basis for further talks.

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      1.   Nice timing 10:27  |  Natallie Durson 04/09/08
      2.   Letter travels Israel-France-Syria to land in Gaza 11:49  |  GreetingsFromHamburg 04/09/08
      3.   Pipsqueek Hamas agent froths at her mouth 15:59  |  Ramius 04/09/08
      4.   As long as Hamas people have Shalit........ 16:36  |  Nora 04/09/08
      5.   letter for shalit 18:52  |  juan solana 04/09/08
      6.   Letter 18:57  |  Anthony 04/09/08
      7.   Assassinations 19:01  |  Anthony 04/09/08
      8.   juan solana - they don`t have to 20:38  |  David Israel 04/09/08
      9.   juan solana 21:00  |  Yakov 04/09/08
      10.   #5: no pal letters needed; their relatives can visit 22:51  |  rehovot 04/09/08
      11.   Do You Wonder, Juan? 02:09  |  Tex 05/09/08
      12.   FRENCH CITIZEN? 03:15  |  VIPER 05/09/08
      13.   Letter from Noam to Gilad. 23:22  |  Lenny F 12/12/08
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