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Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan. (AP) Last update - 20:12 28/04/2008 Turkish FM: Mediation efforts aimed at direct Syria-Israel talks By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Syria, peace process, Israel  Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said Monday that while much remains to be achieved before any peace agreement between Israel and Syria, Ankara would continue to act as a go-between to encourage the two sides to restart direct negotiations. Babacan told reporters that an agreement between the longtime e Advertisement nemies requires strong political determination from both sides. "We are still at the very beginning of the process," Babacan said during a news conference with New Zealand's foreign minister. His comments were in response to a question on Turkey's mediation efforts. Turkey, which has close ties to both Israel and Syria, has disclosed that it is trying to restart low-level talks between the two countries as a prelude to bringing the leaders of Syria and Israel together. The last round of direct peace talks between the two countries broke down in 2000 over the details of Israel's proposed withdrawal from the Golan Heights. "Talks will continue to take place through Turkey for a while," the foreign minister said. "When the issue is a little more mature, then I hope that the sides will meet each other," he said, adding: "It is a very promising development... There has been diplomatic traffic for the past year, which has intensified in the past few months." Meanwhile, a source in Jerusalem said Sunday that Turkey is trying to find a compromise that would allow peace talks between Israel and Syria to begin. Recent proposals to begin negotiations between Syria and Israel stalled after Syrian President Bashar Assad demanded an assurance from Israel that it will withdraw from the Golan Heights as a prerequisite for peace talks to begin. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan plans to send an emissary to Jerusalem to brief Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on his recent talks with Assad in Damascus. Erdogan will apparently send his foreign policy advisor, who is also in charge of talks with Syria and has in the past met with Olmert adviser Yoram Turbowicz in Ankara. Olmert decided to pursue talks with Syria, with Turkish mediation, after he realized that the United States would not object. If the mediation is successful, the talks between Syria and Israel could begin while President George Bush is still in the White House. "The U.S. has never vetoed talks between Israel and Syria, which is why there is nothing to stop talks from going ahead during this U.S. administration - if the conditions are ripe," the government source said. The source added that Israel has not yet received an update on Erdogan's talks in Damascus. "Talks are being conducted to chart out the issue," the source said. "The goal of Turkey's activity is to allow talks to start. That's how we view it. So far, no real negotiations are taking place." Substantial disagreements exist between the two sides' opening stance, the source said. Olmert has called for direct and discreet talks to begin immediately, without arbiters or preconditions. Assad, however, has called for open talks, arbitrated by the U.S. In addition, he wants Israel to announce it would be willing to hand over the Golan Heights territory that it seized from Syria in the Six-Day War, in accordance with an alleged similar commitment agreed to by prime minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995. The Turks are taking both sides' stances into consideration and trying to come up with a formula that would bring them to the negotiating table," the government source said. "The key issue now is to find a solution that would satisfy Syria's demand that Israel commit to a withdrawal from the Golan Heights, which at the moment is impeding progress." The source said Israel is considering an alternative, in the form of a public announcement indicating that Israel is be "well aware of the price it would have to pay at the end of talks." Israeli officials believe Turkey's involvement in the issue will increase. "Erdogan has decided to go all the way on the issue of Israel and Syrian," the Israeli governmental source said. Related articles: Syria said demanding Israeli guarantee on Golan pullout Netanyahu: PM promised Golan to Syria before talks ever began Above all, Olmert must want peace Bookmark to del.icio.us   Word wars Hamas reverses effort to improve portrayal of Jews in Palestinian text books. Cyber-pimps beware MK Gal-On's proposed bill would jail 'online brothel managers' for 5 years.   1.   why not? 04:20  |  Nihat 28/04/08   2.   They are almost frantic 04:59  |  Mark Lincoln 28/04/08   3.   ANY ISRAEL-SYRIAN SETTLEMENT MUST BE BASED ON "HATAY" MODEL 06:54  |  Joel Stein 28/04/08   4.   Turkey meddling into Israel`s affairs is outrageou 07:58  |  Genuine Tosefta 28/04/08   5.   palestinian peace/arab peace initiative/syrian peace 08:04  |  eric 28/04/08   6.   The Golan should remain Israeli. 08:27  |  Jean Van Daem 28/04/08   7.   A Referendum is necessary for any Golan Peace Deal 08:33  |  Dolly 28/04/08   8.   "after the united states would not object"????? 10:01  |  Alon The Israeli 28/04/08   9.   Once We Fix The Leadership In Iran... 10:12  |  Yosemite 28/04/08   10.   #7 Dolly does make me laugh! 11:33  |  Johnboy 28/04/08   11.   Israel has nothing Syria wants except the Golan 12:10  |  Natallie Durson 28/04/08   12.   JVD #6 Golan peace? 13:51  |  Vinegar hill 28/04/08   13.   #11 NUTalie - Then try and explain why 13:58  |  * BEN JABO 28/04/08   14.   My advice to Assad: ...say to Olmert... 14:12  |  Dutch Dirk 28/04/08   15.   # 9 "once we fix the leadership in iran"? 14:35  |  eric 28/04/08   16.   To #11 Natlie Boohoo 14:44  |  Yossi 28/04/08   17.   a very doubtful honest broker for peace ! 14:45  |  v hardman 28/04/08   18.   #11. Israel has nothing Syria wants except the Golan 15:19  |  Panther Jet 28/04/08   19.   There is no need to give Golan to Syria. De facto Peace exists. 17:01  |  Genuine Tosefta 28/04/08   20.   To Johnny # 10 - I make you laugh..... 17:15  |  Dolly 28/04/08   21.   GOLAN NEVER BELONGED TO SYRIA 17:17  |  20x20 28/04/08   22.   # 19 GT "De facto Peace" 17:57  |  Vinegar Hill 28/04/08   23.   Peace for Jews and ME. Finally!! 18:51  |  Turk 28/04/08   24.   give golan heights, jerusalem and west bank 18:56  |  George Duraisingh 28/04/08   25.   Nihat and Turk 19:59  |  David Israel 28/04/08   26.   No peace 20:34  |  Murat 28/04/08   27.   What Could We Possibly Get In Return?!? 21:26  |  Adam 28/04/08   28.   Murat - Istanbullu 21:36  |  David Israel 28/04/08   29.   There is no reason 21:53  |  Turkish 28/04/08   30.   # 19 GT 22:07  |  Axel 28/04/08   31.   #David Israel 22:59  |  Turk 28/04/08   32.   European Union / Turkish-Arab-Jewish Union 22:59  |  Turkish American 28/04/08   33.   # 28 david israel 23:03  |  Axel 28/04/08   34.   Ankarali Cumhur and the Turks 23:06  |  David Israel 28/04/08   35.   Beware of the Turkish Trojan Horse 23:09  |  * BEN JABO 28/04/08   36.   Erdogan and Babacan for peace ? 01:31  |  mehmet 29/04/08   37.   suprise at Turks 02:13  |  Cüneyt 29/04/08   38.   #30 Axel - your saccharine concern is most touching 02:42  |  * BEN JABO 29/04/08   39.   Mehmet I agree but 03:19  |  David Isarel 29/04/08   40.   Cumhur from Ankara 04:52  |  David Israel 29/04/08   41.   the problem 07:44  |  Turkish 29/04/08   42.   Turk #31 15:20  |  David Israel 29/04/08   43.   Turkey has great potential to resolve issues in the mid-east 03:38  |  Mike Mohan 03/05/08   44.   To David Israel 00:17  |  Vehbi Bilimer 22/05/08   45.   Islamofascist AKP and peace mediation? 17:38  |  Erkan 04/06/08

Read & React Olmert to AIPAC: We must stop Iran threat by all possible means Responses: 144 Diplomats: Syria won't let IAEA see 3 alleged nuclear sites Responses: 118 Moshe Arens: A truce in Gaza means victory for the terrorists Responses: 34 Palestinian negotiator: Only miracle can bring peace by year's end Responses: 39 Assad says talks hinge on stability of current Israeli cabinet Responses: 17 Rosner's Domain Americans want talks with Iranian leadership (WTR) Obama leads in Lieberman land (WTR) McCain has been hammering at Obama Guest: Why educate child as Jew when he is not Jewish? Poll: What political option is better for Israel? More Headlines 17:41 Obama to Aipac: As Pres., I'll never compromise on Israel's security 16:30 Palestinian negotiator: Only a miracle will bring peace by year's end 14:19 Olmert to AIPAC: We must stop the Iranian threat 15:25 Israel eases exit restrictions for 4 of 7 Gaza Fulbright scholars 14:25 Suspected Haredi child abuser Elior Chen turns himself in to Brazilian authorities 17:25 Defense sources: Syria arming Hezbollah, despite Israel talks 17:11 Rabbis launch 'prayer for Europe' at EU ceremony 11:36 Obama wins enough delegates to seal nomination, but Clinton won't quit 16:17 Knesset advances bill to make Jerusalem capital of the Jewish people 17:42 Saudi meet aims to launch interfaith dialogue of monotheistic religions 17:30 Knesset bill toughens penalty for attacking medical staff 17:19 Dollar rebounds against the shekel, trading at NIS 3.322 16:18 Ex-finance minister Hirchson indicted for stealing NIS 2 million Previous Editions Select Day 03 jun 02 jun 01 jun 30 may 29 may 28 may 27 may 26 may 25 may 23 may 22 may 21 may

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