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Last update - 10:04 29/04/2008 Head of Damascus think tank handling Israel track for Syria By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Israel, Basher Assad, Syria The Syrian official in charge of the Turkish-mediated contacts with Israel is Samir Taqi, head of a Damascus-based research institute, Israeli officials told Haaretz Monday. The officials said Taqi was very close to decision-makers in Damascus and enjoyed the confidence of the Turkish government. People who know Taqi personally said Monday they believed he was very well-connected to the Syrian intelligence services. Taqi served for years as an adviser to the previous Syrian president, Hafez Assad. In recent years he received the official title of adviser to the prime minister, and heads the Center of Oriental Studies, a political think tank. Prior to taking up his advisory posts, Taqi, who is a Christian, was a cardiac surgeon, who studied medicine in London. In recent years he has has frequently met with journalists and academics to discuss political issues. Advertisement Last year, the Turks welcomed Taqi's visit to northern Cyprus at the head of an unofficial Syrian delegation, when he met with with the foreign minister of the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. His act aroused the ire of Greek Cypriots, who oppose recognition of the Turkish part of the island as an independent state, which only Ankara recognizes. Haaretz has learned that Taqi was the bearer of Israel's main message to Syrian President Bashar Assad more than a week ago, following his visit to Ankara. Taqi's principal contact in Ankara is Ahmet Davutoglu, a close associate of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Taki, in an interview broadcast on Saturday on Al Jazeera, spoke from Damascus and said Syria was interested in moving ahead in talks with Israel even during the present American administration. He said now was the time to prepare for for the pre-negotiation phase, to declare intentions and points of view, until the parties reach the point at which the Americans would be prepared to intervene. Also interviewed was the head of the Israel-Syria Peace Society, Alon Liel, speaking from Ankara. Taqi also said that a 10-kilometer drive from the offices where the interview was taking place, the first Israeli positions came into view. He said that no one could rule Damascus without making the liberation of the Golan a top priority. In interviews to newspapers elsewhere in the world, Taqi has said in the past that Damascus is perturbed by the Israeli threat. However, Taqi declined to pledge that a peace agreement with Israel would entail Syria's breaking off relations with Iran and with terror organizations, as Israel demands. Taqi said that in the framework of a comprehensive peace, the Palestinian organizations and Hezbollah would have no reason to attack Israel. Sources say that the fact that Taqi is handling negotiations is convenient for Syria, because it can present Taqi as an unofficial representative. If Israel demands that an official Syrian representative be appointed opposite its representative, Yoram Turbovich, the Syrians might appoint the adviser to the Syrian Foreign Ministry, Riad Daudi Bookmark to del.icio.us   Deterring Tehran Bush: Disclosure of IAF strike on Syria sends a message to Iran. A lesser evil In Haaretz issue from 1932, Hitler makes a better impression than expected.   1.   ANY ISR-SYR DEAL CAN ONLY BE BASED ON HATAY MODEL 05:17  |  Joel Stein 29/04/08   2.   Embracing Peace 05:46  |  Proudly Syrian 29/04/08   3.   to proud syrian 07:48  |  Mikey 29/04/08   4.   No chances with Syria ruled by the Assad gang. 08:55  |  Jean Van Daem 29/04/08   5.   No to terrorists 09:05  |  Motic 29/04/08   6.   Assad is not offering anything 10:25  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 29/04/08   7.   To Motic 10:31  |  Witness 29/04/08   8.   peace in mideast 13:51  |  Les 29/04/08   9.   To Mikey of Baltimore 14:12  |  Syrian 29/04/08   10.   Why the attack on proud Syrian, Mickey? 15:43  |  David Turner 29/04/08   11.   Syrian political situation as an obstacle for peace 10:02  |  Ulf 30/04/08

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