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Last update - 08:46 17/06/2008
UN envoy: Israel has given Syria a 'huge gift' for free
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Olmert, Israel, Syria, Assad

A senior United Nations official has harshly criticized Israel's
indirect negotiations with Syria, whose second round ended yesterday, charging that "Israel has given Syria a huge gift, without thus far receiving anything in exchange."

Terje Roed-Larsen, the UN secretary-general's special envoy for the
i
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mplementation of Security Council Resolution 1559, made the comments last week in a conversation with Israeli diplomats.

In a classified telegram to the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, Israel's UN delegation wrote that Larsen had complained that "Syria is receiving
legitimacy for free."

"Europe is courting the Syrians because of the negotiations with Israel, and they are no longer being asked to give anything in exchange," the telegram quoted Larsen as saying.

Larsen is considered one of the UN's leading experts on Middle Eastern
affairs, and especially on Syrian and Lebanese issues. However, he has an
extremely negative view of Syrian President Bashar Assad, due to Assad's
meddling in Lebanon in general and his suspected involvement in the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri in particular.

The key element of the resolution Roed-Larsen is charged with overseeing,
which was adopted in 2004, was a demand that Syrian forces exit Lebanon,
though the text also urges the dismantling of all Lebanese militias.

Nor is Larsen the only international player to express reservations about the Israeli-Syrian talks: U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said recently that it was more important right now to focus on Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. It is not clear whether Rice reiterated this comment to Israeli officials in her talks with them earlier this week.

The second round of talks lasted two days. Once again, the parties refrained from talking directly; rather, Turkish mediators ferried messages back and forth.

According to a senior Israeli official, the session ended with an agreement to continue the discussions intensively, and dates were set for two more meetings over the next few weeks. These sessions, like their predecessors, will take place in Turkey, but the Turks are keen to keep the exact location secret. It is still not known whether the latest round took place in Ankara or Istanbul.

Israel's representatives at the talks, Yoram Turbowicz and Shalom Turgeman, told Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that the atmosphere was positive and constructive. Turkish officials echoed this assessment.

From Turkey, Turbowicz and Turgeman preceded to France to discuss an upcoming trip to Israel by French President Nicolas Sarkozy and the summit Sarkozy will host next month on his plan to establish a union of Mediterranean countries. Assad and Olmert are both among the 47 leaders who received invitations, and an Israeli official told Reuters that Sarkozy is trying to arrange a meeting between them. However, Jerusalem considers it highly unlikely that Assad will agree.

Related articles:
  • Official: Latest Israel-Syria talks end in 'positive atmosphere'
  • Israel-Syria talks enter second round in Turkey
  • Report: Turkey and Syria consider joint nuclear energy project
  • Netanyahu, on Syria talks: Peace with dictatorial state won't last
  • Uzi Benziman / Peace isn't a discount sale

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      1.   Syiria talks 01:20  |  Michael 17/06/08
      2.   Larsen is no friend of Israel,I`d trust Assad more than him. 01:25  |  Alan SA 17/06/08
      3.   APPEASERS! 01:40  |  g w BUSH 17/06/08
      4.   Show respect to get respect 01:44  |  MARK KLEIN, M.D. 17/06/08
      5.   Sorry Terje, Olmert needs that smoke screen 01:44  |  Ruben Misrahi 17/06/08
      6.   Misunderstanding Israel`s goals. 02:00  |  Natahniel 17/06/08
      7.   Cover and Deception, not nothing 02:07  |  Mark Lincoln 17/06/08
      8.   Larsen is right 02:12  |  Brod 17/06/08
      9.   Golan is Israeli! 02:40  |  Joey 17/06/08
      10.   ISRAEL can`t win with UN circus can it? 02:40  |  PETER SM 17/06/08
      11.   Joey #9 03:33  |  jjvanka 17/06/08
      12.   #4 MARK KLEIN 03:52  |  Courcey 17/06/08
      13.   HE SHOULD KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT 04:03  |  Arik Silverman 17/06/08
      14.   It`s a sad day...... 04:20  |  Gilles 17/06/08
      15.   Something for nothing - that`s the point 04:22  |  Margaret Connell 17/06/08
      16.   The UN and USA Are Right on t 04:54  |  Dave Levy 17/06/08
      17.   # 10 Peter SM....Assad is only cozying up 05:00  |  Lynn 17/06/08
      18.   Terje Rød Larsen 05:05  |  Magnus k 17/06/08
      19.   Assad Gave Israel a lot 05:15  |  Ron 17/06/08
      20.   Yes he should keep his big mouth shut 05:15  |  Vadim 17/06/08
      21.   Once Again, The Parties Refrained From Talking Directly; Rather, 05:20  |  Eli 17/06/08
      22.   Living Well is The Best Revenge 05:25  |  Jimmy 17/06/08
      23.   Antisemite Larsen lambasted Israel before for not doing enough, 05:31  |  Genuine Tosefta 17/06/08
      24.   A very early stage 05:42  |  Tosefta 17/06/08
      25.   Hey, Laren: we already did that - we gave up Gaza 05:55  |  R 17/06/08
      26.   No negotiations before Israel bombed Syria? 06:30  |  Maureen Ann 17/06/08
      27.   Larsen, it`s Israel-bashers like you that force Israel into this 06:36  |  McQueen 17/06/08
      28.   Israel and Syria using each other 06:43  |  MarkC 17/06/08
      29.   UN envoy attacks Israel for having peace talks 06:48  |  DrSteveB 17/06/08
      30.   Damn`ed if you do... 06:48  |  Montrealer 17/06/08
      31.   #7 mark L - then WHY are you posting messages here? 06:55  |  CK Tan 17/06/08
      32.   Larsen hit the nail on the head 07:02  |  Proud Israeli 17/06/08
      33.   Good Comments Dave Levy #16 07:20  |  Proud Israeli 17/06/08
      34.   #23 Genuine Tosefta - Tough for Israel as usual 07:21  |  CK Tan 17/06/08
      35.   Israel is too peaceful? 07:27  |  David 17/06/08
      36.   #26 maureen from "the backwaters of intelligence" - what is.. 07:28  |  CK Tan 17/06/08
      37.   It`s OK Larsen, we are used to giving without getting anything 07:46  |  Dan 17/06/08
      38.   jjvanka # 11 - WRONG- According to International Law 08:03  |  Dolly 17/06/08
      39.   he should be fired. 08:17  |  ClearCut 17/06/08
      40.   Magnus k you coming from Norway seem very "objective" to protect 08:22  |  Genuine Tosefta 17/06/08
      41.   what else is new 08:22  |  valerie 17/06/08
      42.   larsen`s an idiot who has NO place criticizing israel! 08:28  |  eric 17/06/08
      43.   Israel giving Syria LEGAL RIGHTS TO REGAIN THE GOLAN!!! 08:30  |  Dagma 17/06/08
      44.   CK Tan tough is tough but not the worst 08:32  |  Genuine Tosefta 17/06/08
      45.   What nonsense: quoted in a secrete telegram by an Israeli officia 08:45  |  AA 17/06/08
      46.   Larson on Harriri`s payrol (fact) 08:55  |  Amer 17/06/08
      47.   Israel gave Larsen a `HUGE GIFT` --for Services HE Rendered! 08:58  |  100,000 USD 17/06/08
      48.   Israel gave Larsen a `HUGE GIFT` --for Services HE Rendered! 08:58  |  100,000 USD 17/06/08
      49.   MUNICH II....APPEASING DICTATORS 09:03  |  Ben Uziel 17/06/08
      50.   Larsen is Justified in his criticism of Olmert 09:05  |  The Threadmill 17/06/08
      51.   Is Olmert a spy??? 09:23  |  Sam 17/06/08
      52.   Is Barak Ravid a Journalist, or HIS MASTERS` VOICE? 09:24  |  Q 17/06/08
      53.   Is Barak Ravid a Journalist, or HIS MASTERS` VOICE? 09:24  |  Q 17/06/08
      54.   The `Magnificent Manipulator` Olmert...... 09:28  |  Natasha 17/06/08
      55.   #CKTan. The intelligent one. 09:40  |  Maureen Ann 17/06/08
      56.   DEMONSTRATIONS and more DEMONSTRATIONS 09:49  |  Dolly 17/06/08
      57.   "Syria is receiving legitimacy for free" 09:55  |  Colin Wright 17/06/08
      58.   FAILED BY MILITARY MEANS, NOW "HUGE GIFT" B.S 09:58  |  indrajaya 17/06/08
      59.   re CK Tan #31 10:01  |  Colin Wright 17/06/08
      60.   DEMONSTRATIONS and MORE DEMONSTRATIONS 10:03  |  Dagma 17/06/08
      61.   one is left speechless 10:17  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 17/06/08
      62.   Syra has "legiimacy" anyway 10:20  |  Fritz T. 17/06/08
      63.   To Post 48 l00,000 USD - Do You Understand fully..... 10:21  |  Pathfinder 17/06/08
      64.   Olmert was PAID. 10:23  |  netta 17/06/08
      65.   ISRAEL IS BEING RAPED BY THE CORRUPT GOVERNMENT!!!!!!!!!!! 10:24  |  OLMERT=CRIMINAL 17/06/08
      66.   Magnus k....Terje the best you have to offer? 10:38  |  Ofer Maimon 17/06/08
      67.   # 47, 100.000USD 10:47  |  indrajaya 17/06/08
      68.   #61 Cipora is rendered speechless! 10:56  |  Johnboy 17/06/08
      69.   Roed-Larsen burst his bubble 10:58  |  Steve the Pals. 17/06/08
      70.   Sharon plan was something else...