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PM aides: Direct talks with Syria possible soon By Haaretz Correspondents and Reuters , By Barak Ravid and Yoav Stern Israel and Syria will soon be able to hold direct talks, according to aides of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert involved in the two countries' indirect negotiations. Shalom Turgeman, Olmert's chief diplomatic aide, told foreign diplomats that talks which have so far been conducted via Turkish mediation may soon move to another stage. Advertisement Turgeman said he does not believe the talks will be affected by the latest corruption investigation against Olmert. Israel and Syria announced last month that they were resuming negotiations using Turkish mediators. Turgeman and another Olmert adviser, Yoram Turbowicz, have taken part in a number of meetings in Istanbul over moving the negotiations forward, but no progress has been announced. Talks in Turkey may resume at the end of the week. Syrian President Bashar Assad gave a lengthy interview to the newspaper The Hindu published Friday and made comments on the talks. In addition, French President Nicolas Sarkozy yesterday met with U.S. President George W. Bush in the United States and discussed the Israel-Syria talks. Sarkozy told reporters after the meeting that Syria must distance itself from Iran and its nuclear ambitions. French diplomats are expected to arrive in Damascus for talks over Assad's participation in a conference aimed to set up a union of Mediterranean countries. The French diplomatic visit is the first for months since a fallout between Paris and Damascus over Syrian involvement in Lebanon. On Friday, France's foreign minister said he is uncomfortable that the president of Syria has been invited to Paris' Bastille Day parade, even though such visits are necessary to keep dialogue open. "I'm not especially amused by Assad's visit," Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said on Europe 1 radio. But he said Syria has made progress by resuming peace talks with Israel. "The visit doesn't leave me totally at ease, but this is what we have to do or else we'll maintain a state of tensions, difficulties and probably confrontations," Kouchner said. Assad has been invited to France in July along with other leaders from Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, including Israel. Among their activities, they have been invited to attend the July 14 Bastille Day parade. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Snoop Dogg in Israel American rapper Snoop Dogg slated to perform in Ramat Gan. Late date Scientists revive 2,000-year-old date seed found at Masada.

Read & React Rice: Settlement building may harm Israel-PA talks Responses: 241 Gideon Levy: Europe's hatred of Muslims makes it back Israel despite occupation Responses: 153 Olmert aides: Israel and Syria may hold direct talks soon Responses: 175 No murder charges for suspects in lynch of Jewish terrorist Responses: 69 More Headlines 02:28 Syria and Israel aiming for direct talks by next month 02:56 Israel awaiting Egypt's answer to remaining issues of Gaza truce deal 00:08 Study: Israelis rank fourth in list of world workaholics 19:39 Epiphany in a Spanish neo-Nazi bookstore 00:08 Rice to Israel: 'Extremely important' to grant exit visas to Gaza Fulbright students 02:59 Battle of the attitude / Israeli girls vs. American Jews 22:36 No murder charges for suspects in lynch of Jewish terrorist 22:53 Lebanon terrorist's lawyer: No word to us on imminent release 21:37 Obama, McCain aides agree: Israel, U.S. must discuss strike on Iran 18:04 Rice: Settlement construction has 'negative effect' on talks 20:20 Teacher collapses and dies during soccer tournament at school Previous Editions Select Day 15 jun 13 jun 12 jun 11 jun 10 jun 09 jun 08 jun 06 jun 05 jun 04 jun 03 jun 02 jun

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