Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., September 08, 2008 Elul 8, 5768 | | Israel Time: 02:20 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Sarkozy assured Assad is serious about peace negotiations with Israel By Barak Ravid and Yoav Stern French President Nicolas Sarkozy is convinced Syrian President Bashar Assad is serious about pursuing peace talks with Israel in the coming months, French officials said yesterday. The head of the Middle East branch of the French Foreign Ministry will arrive in Israel today to deliver this message to Shalom Turjeman, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's political adviser, and Foreign Ministry Director-General Aharon Abramowitz. Assad reportedly expressed satisfaction to Sarkozy over the progress of indirect Israeli-Syrian talks through Turkish mediation. The Syrian president also reportedly emphasized the importance of Israel abiding by the six-point document Damascus presented to Turkey last week. Advertisement Assad said only Israel's acceptance of the document could lead to direct negotiations between the two countries. He also expressed doubt that any such talks could be held during the tenure of the current U.S. administration, but urged French participation in mediation efforts alongside those of Washington. Assad referred to Hezbollah's rearmament in Lebanon, telling Sarkozy that his regime had no interest in seeing another conflict erupt on the Israel-Lebanon border, and that he did not intend to give the militant group a green light to attack Israel. In other news, a senior European diplomat visiting Israel told the London-based paper Asharq al-Awsat that an American official would take part in indirect peace talks between Israel and Syria in Turkey in two weeks, the paper reported yesterday. However a Jerusalem official told Haaretz the report was false, and he had no knowledge of any U.S. involvement in the indirect peace talks being held under Turkish mediation. The newspaper report, however, included confirmation by an Israeli source that a U.S. official would act as an observer in the upcoming talks. The report marks the first time U.S. participation in Israeli-Syrian talks has been brought up since the collapse of the U.S. -mediated negotiations held in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, in 2000. The talks, led by then prime minister Ehud Barak, failed to yield any concrete results, but both Syrian and Israeli officials vowed to return to negotiations as soon as possible, a promise yet unfulfilled. Syria said in the past that any successful negotiations would require the U.S.'s participation, and could only be held after President George W. Bush left office. A Damascus official told the newspaper that due to Syria's suspicions of the U.S., it was not clear Syria would be seeking help in the negotiations. U.S. State Department official John Sullivan told the daily that the U.S. supported Israel's talks with Syria, but could not confirm that the U.S. would be taking part in any future negotiations. On Thursday, Syrian President Bashar Assad met in Damascus with the leaders of France, Turkey and Qatar; he said Syria had handed proposals for peace with Israel to Turkish mediators and was awaiting Israel's response before holding face-to-face talks. He said the document was intended to serve as a basis for direct talks and that he was waiting for a similar document on Israel's starting position. The Syrian president also cautioned that the future of negotiations would rest on who became the next Israeli prime minister and whether the new leader would be committed to pursuing peace with Syria. As the target of several corruption investigations, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will be stepping down, leaving peace prospects with both Syria and the Palestinians uncertain. The Prime Minister's Office refused to comment yesterday on Syria's announcement. Jerusalem sources, however, relayed that Israel was liaising with Turkey to arrange another round of indirect talks with Damascus before the High Holidays at the end of the month. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Interfaith grandchildren A new group is helping U.S. seniors teach their interfaith grandkids Jewish traditions. Iranian war games Iran army to hold three-day drill amid speculation over Israeli strike.

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