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Syrian Presidnet Bashar Assad.
 (Reuters)
Last update - 15:54 18/03/2009
Assad: Olmert agreed to give up all of the Golan
By Haaretz Service and Reuters
Tags: Israel News, Ehud Olmert 

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert agreed to withdraw from all of the Golan Heights during indirect peace talks with Damascus, Syrian President Bashar Assad told the Italian newspaper La Repubblica.

In an interview which appeared in the newspaper's Wednesday edition, Assad said Israel and Syria were within "touching distance" of clinching a peace agreement.

The Syrian premier told La Repubblica that during the Turkish-mediated peace negotiations, Olmert indicated to Turkey's prime minister, Reccep Tayip Erdogan, that he is ready to relinquish all of the Golan Heights to Syria.
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Assad added that both sides were very near an agreement, and that all that remained was to finalize last details over the precise route of the 1967 line which would serve as the future border between the two countries.

As both sides reached the final stages of talks, Olmert requested a pause in the talks so as to consult with his government. Shortly afterwards, Israel launched its offensive in the Gaza Strip.

"Turkey became exasperated with Israel because it felt duped [because of the Gaza war]," Assad added.

The Syrian leader said he was concerned over the future of peace talks given the make-up of Israel's next government, which in all likelihood will be formed by Benjamin Netanyahu. "I see the finish line moving further away," Assad said. "I am not fearful of Netanyahu, but from the fact that Israel voted for a rightist government. This is the biggest hurdle to peace."

Assad also said he hoped to meet U.S. President Barack Obama and expressed his willingness to help mediate between the West and Iran.

"With the pullout in Iraq, the will for peace, the closing of Guantanamo, (Obama) has shown himself to be a man of his word," he said, referring to the U.S. naval base in Cuba where hundreds of suspected Islamist militants have been held, most for years without trial.

But Assad said it was too soon to speak of a "historic shift" in U.S. foreign policy.

Asked about meeting Obama, Assad said: "Yes, in principle. It would be a very positive sign. But I'm not looking for a photo opportunity. I want to see him, to talk".

Obama has been reviewing U.S. policy toward Syria, including whether to return an ambassador to Damascus. Earlier this month he sent two envoys to Damascus earlier this month, where in a change of tone after years of animosity with Syria, one of the officials said they had found "a lot of common ground".

Washington pulled its ambassador out of Syria after the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.

Syria, which is on the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism, denies any involvement in Hariri's murder but the United States pointed fingers at Damascus.

Assad said the United States under Obama could play an important role bringing peace to the region. Although he voiced confidence about the growing diplomatic roles of countries like Turkey and France in the area, he said "only Washington can press Israel".

On Iran, which Washington believes wants to build nuclear weapons, Assad said: "... with Iran, I'm ready to mediate".

He urged the West to come up with concrete proposals for Tehran, which he said was "an important country, like it or not". Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.

Of Iran's role in Iraq, he said Tehran's influence should not be seen as negative if based on "reciprocal respect" and drew distinction between influence and interference.

"If instead we're talking about facilitating dialogue with Tehran, a concrete proposal is needed to give to that government. Until now, I've only received an invitation to play a role. Agreed, but that's not enough," Assad said.

"What's lacking is a plan, rules and specific mechanisms to put forward to Tehran."


Related articles:
  • Lebanese leader: If Syria signs peace deal with Israel, so will we
  • Netanyahu advisors tell him to push ahead with Syria track
  • Assad: Direct Israel talks possible if U.S. mediates
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      1.   Golan 11:49  |  Darrell 18/03/09
      2.   de facto, de jure 11:53  |  fly in the ointment 18/03/09
      3.   It rings true.... 12:03  |  Johnboy 18/03/09
      4.   Something to appreciate 12:03  |  Miriam 18/03/09
      5.   #2 Do tell...... 12:05  |  Johnboy 18/03/09
      6.   Sorry Assad any backdoor deal you & olmert made isnt binding 12:08  |  zionist forever 18/03/09
      7.   Assad is fearful from the fact Israel voted... 12:10  |  Lionel 18/03/09
      8.   Yes, yes, no, no, thanks! 12:29  |  fritz t. 18/03/09
      9.   control of the headwaters of the Jordan, for obvious reasons 12:31  |  fritz t. 18/03/09
      10.   # 6 zionist 12:40  |  Axel 18/03/09
      11.   Assad`s Hallucinations 12:46  |  Khaled 18/03/09
      12.   Sooner or later, the borders go back to 1967 12:55  |  Natallie Durson 18/03/09
      13.   The Golan doesn`t want or need a Syrian dictator. 13:16  |  Michael J 18/03/09
      14.   "Biggest Hurdle to Peace" 13:18  |  john doe 18/03/09
      15.   #3 The blissful illusions of Waltons Mountain 13:18  |  The Prophet 18/03/09
      16.   #10 Axel, regarding Netanyahu`s "promises" 13:19  |  Johnboy 18/03/09
      17.   From the man who runs a murder cartel 13:26  |  Ilan 18/03/09
      18.   Within touching distance? 13:27  |  J 18/03/09
      19.   15 The prophet and the Golan Heights 13:44  |  Ardi 18/03/09
      20.   we already have 1 terrorist state raining rockets on Israel 13:57  |  Observer 18/03/09
      21.   olemert agreed to give up all of the golan 14:05  |  anat 18/03/09
      22.   Olmert 14:14  |  Brod 18/03/09
      23.   A positive outlook to see that peace a possibility with Syria... 14:18  |  Smadar 18/03/09
      24.   THE GOLAN !!! 14:18  |  The Arab 18/03/09
      25.   OLMERT DOESN`T KNOW WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT 14:27  |  indrajaya 18/03/09
      26.   Hafez al-Assad ruled the country for 3 decades 14:43  |  Marcelo 18/03/09
      27.   He seems like a believable fellow 14:49  |  Susan 18/03/09
      28.   "Very near an agreement"? Direct negotiations had not even begun! 14:56  |  Realist 18/03/09
      29.   Golan?? 15:05  |  baba lalou 18/03/09
      30.   Same speech he gives after every Israeli government 15:05  |  Christopher 18/03/09
      31.   Assad the younger is as useless as Assad the Elder 15:26  |  Jacob Blues 18/03/09
      32.   Interesting 15:48  |  Liat 18/03/09
      33.   to #3 Johnboy 16:40  |  Norwegian 18/03/09
      34.   The Golan is our legally and morally 17:24  |  Gee 18/03/09
      35.   The Israeli people did send a message 17:25  |  NE 18/03/09
      36.   #24 The Arab, do not understimate American dependence on Arab OIL 18:07  |  Mark B. 18/03/09
      37.   He also promised Syria my bedroom set 18:18  |  David K 18/03/09
      38.   Assads own words about peace making 18:57  |  zionist forever 18/03/09
      39.   That must be backwards 19:34  |  Donna Wallach 18/03/09
      40.   If Olmert`s smart he`d say Assad promised to give up. 00:59  |  period 19/03/09
      41.   Olmert agreed to give up all of the Golan 01:18  |  Mark Gary Blumenthal 19/03/09
      42.   #33 Norwegian 01:22  |  Johnboy 19/03/09
      43.   above 03:37  |  abraham cohen 19/03/09
      44.   Why should the Golan be Syrian 03:43  |  Moshe 19/03/09
      45.   SYRYIA should give up her dream of the GOLAN as did with TURKEY 11:13  |  Gil 19/03/09
      46.   SYRYIA should give up her dream of the GOLAN as did with TURKEY 11:13  |  Gil 19/03/09
      47.   ISRAEL MUST KEEP ALL THE GOLAN, FOR SECURITY REASONS . 04:57  |  J LASHAK-KOROGOSDKY 21/03/09
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