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French President Nicolas Sarkozy (L) greets Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Paris last year. (Reuters)
Last update - 22:48 18/06/2008
Olmert to French daily: Israel, Syria not far from direct talks
By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent and The Associated Press
Tags: Israel, Syria, peace talks

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was quoted as saying Wednesday that Israel is not far away from direct peace talks with Syria.

Israel and Syria, bitter enemies, have recently renewed indirect discussions, with Turkish-mediation.

Olmert, in an interview with France's Le Figaro newspaper, was quoted as saying that direct talks could be opened once Israel and Syria agree on a precise agenda and issues to discuss.
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"We aren't far away," Olmert was quoted as saying. "If the two parties are serious, we should soon sit down at a table for talks."

Both Olmert and Syrian President Bashar Assad are expected in Paris at a summit of European and Mediterranean countries on July 13 and there has been speculation that they may meet on the sidelines.

Claude Gueant, French President Nicolas Sarkozy's chief of staff, told
Europe-1 radio that Olmert recommended the two leaders hold direct contacts during the Paris summit.

Later Wednesday, another official in Sarkozy's office said such a meeting was not expected, as talks were not at that point yet.

Olmert, asked about a potential meeting with Assad in Paris, sidestepped the question. "Sarkozy knows better than me what will happen in Paris," he was quoted as telling Le Figaro.

Gueant told Europe 1 radio earlier in the day: "We see now Mr Olmert is suggesting that the summit of the 13th could be an opportunity for direct contacts.

"I don't know if that will be the case but in any case there is much at stake and it is France's role as a peacemaker to try to ensure that it works," he added.

Israeli political sources had said this week that Olmert was offering to meet Assad in Paris.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said on Tuesday Israel and Syria would hold a new round of indirect peace talks mediated by Turkey in July after two earlier rounds of indirect talks ended successfully.

The last direct talks - between then Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Syrian Foreign Minister Farouq al-Shara - stalled in 2000 in a dispute over how much of the Golan Heights, which Israel captured in a 1967 war, should go back to Syria.

France's relations with Syria, long troubled by accusations that Damascus has fuelled tensions in Lebanon, have warmed recently but there has been controversy over an invitation to Assad to the annual Bastille Day military parade on July 14.

Gueant confirmed that Assad would be in Paris for the summit but he said it was unsure whether the Syrian leader would join other summit participants at the Bastille Day parade.

"I don't know if he'll be there," he said and added that Assad was "absolutely not a guest of honour, he's a guest among 45 or 50 others."

Syrian official: Peace with Israel will create harmonious Mideast

On Tuesday, Syria's Deputy Foreign Minister Faysal Mekdad told the Chicago Tribune that peace between Israel and Syria will usher in a new era of prosperity and allow people to travel freely throughout the Middle East.

"When people can move freely between Syria, Israel, Palestine, Jordan and Egypt, a great change will take place," Mekdad told the U.S. daily in an interview. "Our people will enjoy life without bad dreams of the martyrdom of their children, we will improve living conditions and we will open up to the international community. The impact of peace will
be bliss for the entire region."

Riad Abrash, an aide to the government in Damascus, was quoted as saying that Syria would like the U.S. to participate in further talks with Israel. "We would like America to be the caretaker of the whole thing. We don't expect them to do it under this administration but we have high hopes for the next administration," Abrash said.

Mekdad also commented on Syria's relations with Iran and how they disagree with the Islamic Republic's policy calling for the destruction of Israel.

"Syria has reminded Hamas and Hezbollah that we are not like Iran. Iran believes in the destruction of Israel, while Syria believes in negotiating with Israel," he said. "In diplomacy there are things that need never be written. Nobody now will be willing to show you the end game."

Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said Tuesday that indirect peace talks between Israel and Syria held in Turkey over the past few days were a success, and two more sessions have been planned for July.

"The calendar has been set for the next two meetings in July," Babacan told journalists after a meeting with EU diplomats in Luxembourg.

Meshal: Syria won't cut Hamas ties for peace with Israel

Hamas' political leader Khaled Meshal has said his organization is confident Syria will not bow to Israeli pressure to cut ties with the Palestinian Islamist group to clinch a peace deal.

"Israel has a tactic of trying to push Syria away from its allies and the Palestinian issue but this is a game," the Damascus-based Hamas leader told Reuters during an official visit to the United Arab Emirates.

Meshal added that, "The Syrians have said, officially and at the top levels, that their efforts and determination to return the Golan will not come at the expense of the Palestinians or Syria's ties and contacts. We trust the Syrian position."

Israel and Syria concluded a second round of indirect peace talks on Monday and agreed to continue the negotiations over the fate of the Golan Heights in July.

Meshal said Hamas was not invited to the talks.


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  • UN envoy: Israel has given Syria a 'huge gift' for free
  • TIMELINE: A chronology of Israel-Syria relations since 1947
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      1.   Speaking of bliss, Mr. Deputy Foreign Minister 03:43  |  newageblues 18/06/08
      2.   mert and bush have made a laughing stock of Israel and the US!!! 03:51  |  glenna 18/06/08
      3.   New Vasuki? 04:18  |  drunken russian 18/06/08
      4.   IF YOU BELIEVE THIS COME TO MY HOUSE AND I WILL SHOW YOU THE ARK 05:54  |  glenna 18/06/08
      5.   HAS he checked with his Shiite Persian buddies yet? 06:18  |  PETER SM 18/06/08
      6.   To # 4 06:32  |  openminded 18/06/08
      7.   to #3: Indeed. 06:38  |  Alex 18/06/08
      8.   Truces - left and right 06:50  |  Reid 18/06/08
      9.   To Reid # 7 - It is Olmert Manipulating again..... 07:27  |  Dagma 18/06/08
      10.   The demand of Assad to receive the Golan... 07:38  |  Jean Van Daem 18/06/08
      11.   To Marana #6 07:40  |  Otto Rand 18/06/08
      12.   If talks are a success, then the Golan is decided 07:58  |  Natallie Durson 18/06/08
      13.   nothng to do with the Golan 09:33  |  peter 18/06/08
      14.   Harmonious Middle East? LOL 09:52  |  Paul Henzen 18/06/08
      15.   YES.. WHEN PIGS FLY 10:03  |  indrajaya 18/06/08
      16.   Is this how conditioning works, haaretz? 10:08  |  Teeleaf 18/06/08
      17.   #8, Reid 10:14  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 18/06/08
      18.   I stopped taking acid in 1977, some people 10:15  |  Harvey (Chaim) 18/06/08
      19.   GOLAN, AGAIN AND AGAIN.- Part 1.. 10:22  |  FO 18/06/08
      20.   GOLAN, AGAIN AND AGAIN... Part 2. 10:27  |  FO 18/06/08
      21.   GOLAN, AGAIN AND AGAIN... Part 3. 10:31  |  FO 18/06/08
      22.   GOLAN, AGAIN AND AGAIN... Part 4. 10:34  |  FO 18/06/08
      23.   Sounds to me like violin... 10:57  |  S 18/06/08
      24.   There`s no change: the lion will lie down with the lamb 11:02  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 18/06/08
      25.   To 1 nugeborn, 11:10  |  N. 18/06/08
      26.   Hand over the Golan 11:34  |  Vinegar Hill 18/06/08
      27.   #23, S, nothing sounds like the violin 11:45  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 18/06/08
      28.   this syrian official speaks in the name of thugs 12:05  |  harzion 18/06/08
      29.   Remember: the Koran permits lieing to the infidels 12:12  |  AliciaYasmeen 18/06/08
      30.   #12, You are so right 12:13  |  Marko Rauhamaa 18/06/08
      31.   THANK YOU KNESSET 12:25  |  AliciaYasmeen 18/06/08
      32.   Israel: Harmony with Syria, Golan belongs to Israel! 13:01  |  The Archives 18/06/08
      33.   peace from a Syrian mouth 13:18  |  dovale 18/06/08
      34.   Syrian are wrong... 14:06  |  georges 18/06/08
      35.   If the Tahdiyeh takes hold 14:30  |  Afikoman 18/06/08
      36.   ANY ISRAEL-SYRIAN DEAL MUST BE BASED ON "HATAY" MODEL 14:32  |  G. Marcus 18/06/08
      37.   BUT DOESN`T OLMERT 14:33  |  Robert 18/06/08
      38.   To the Belgian Revisionist FO 14:38  |  Afikoman 18/06/08
      39.   Syria vs. Iran 15:12  |  Tosefta 18/06/08
      40.   Olmert`s Days as PM are numbered 15:22  |  Baruch Gold 18/06/08
      41.   Tosefta Tveria spot on 15:57  |  Afikoman 18/06/08
      42.   Olmert is a crook, a manipulator...... 16:38  |  Pathfinder 18/06/08
      43.   new bazura ! 16:47  |  Vitali 18/06/08
      44.   Why PLAY WITH FIRE.......? 17:18  |  Dolly 18/06/08
      45.   Golan Heights should not be a consideration 18:14  |  Tali 18/06/08
      46.   To Tosfeta #39 18:34  |  Tali 18/06/08
      47.   Olmert and sarko 19:13  |  Paris Latino 18/06/08
      48.   #10 JEAN VAN DAEM 20:10  |  Courcey 18/06/08
      49.   I found the "unofficial" Saudi position interesting 21:40  |  Mark Lincoln 18/06/08
      50.   Is this a poor translation or a PR game? 21:47  |  Motic 18/06/08
      51.   ANYTHING IS BETTER THAN OLMERT`S & LINVI`S LEFTIST DEFEATISM 01:31  |  Jonathan Davis 19/06/08
      52.   # 24 margie 01:38  |  Axel 19/06/08
      53.   # 40 baruch gold 01:42  |  Axel 19/06/08
      54.   # 45 tali 01:45  |  Axel 19/06/08
      55.   # 46 tali 01:48  |  Axel 19/06/08
      56.   What is Sarkozy really saying to Olmert? 01:53  |  Maureen Ann 19/06/08
      57.   Poor Golan Heights 02:12  |  sweis Melbourne 19/06/08
      58.   Is there anyone alive at Haaretz? 04:13  |  Mark Lincoln 19/06/08
      59.   Amazing! Can`t Olmert see that the Golan is an Iranian Territory! 06:38  |  Akram Zekaria 19/06/08
      60.   #27 Cipora 07:29  |  MR 19/06/08
      61.   FORGET IT. NO GOLAN. NEVER EVER 07:29  |  THE SYRIAN MYTH 19/06/08
      62.   #31 AliciaYasmeen 07:32  |  MR 19/06/08
      63.   75% of Israelis oppose an Israeli withdrawal from all ... 10:35  |  Jean Van Daem 19/06/08
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