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Syrian President Bashar Assad. (AP) Last update - 10:22 08/07/2008 Assad: Direct talks with Israel only after Bush leaves office By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent and Reuters Tags: Assad, Syria Syrian President Bashar Assad told the French daily Le Figaro Monday that he will not begin direct talks with Israel while U.S. President George W. Bush is in office. Assad said that American involvement was crucial to the talks' success, and "frankly, we do not think that the current American administration is capable of making peace." Also on Monday, an Israeli government source said Turkey is pressing Syria to move swiftly into direct talks with Israel. The Israeli source said that Turkish officials have told their Syrian counterparts in recent days that the indirect talks mediated by Ankara have exhausted their usefulness, and it is now necessary to move to the next stage. Advertisement The Turks are pressing Damascus fairly hard on this issue, Israel has been told. The Turks argue that the indirect talks have already fulfilled their function, which was to get the process started, replace the mutual suspicion with a degree of mutual trust, and determine whether there is a basis for moving forward. The answer to the latter question, in Ankara's view, is yes, and therefore it sees no point in continuing the indirect talks, which can take the process only so far. The Israeli official added that Turkey and Israel had both wanted direct talks from the outset, but because Syria refused, they agreed to begin with indirect talks. According to the Israeli official, Turkey has another motive for desiring to push the talks up a level: It is afraid that France may seek to "steal" its mediator's role, due to the recent rapprochement between Paris and Damascus. "They have developed a real rivalry with France, and they want to advance the negotiations in order to bolster their status," he said. Next Monday, Assad and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will both attend a summit in Paris to launch a proposed new Mediterranean Union. The two are not expected to hold talks or shake hands, but will apparently be seated opposite each other at the same table, as a quirky result of the French decision to make the seating strictly alphabetical. Thus far, there have been three sessions of indirect talks, which involve Turkish mediators shuttling between Israeli and Syrian negotiators located in the same city, but not the same hotel. These meetings have focused mainly on technical issues, such as what the agenda for direct talks should be. Bookmark to del.icio.us   By the numbers A new study shows Jewish Israeli men live three years longer than Israeli Arabs. Local threat The Shin Bet arrests two Bedouin, accused of supplying information to al-Qaida.   1.   THE ONLY THING WHAT ASSAD WANTS IS GOLAN PIECE;HE WILL NOT BREAK 02:39  |  glenna 08/07/08   2.   After Bush leaves office 03:33  |  Jerryk 08/07/08   3.   excuses excuses 03:51  |  David G 08/07/08   4.   Bashir Assad, OD 04:25  |  SB 08/07/08   5.   One does not have to do with the other, crux of direct talks does 05:26  |  Smadar 08/07/08   6.   syria is not serious for peace 05:34  |  Israel 08/07/08   7.   Assad knows what he is doin 06:56  |  Natallie Durson 08/07/08   8.   why peace??? 07:26  |  jhon 08/07/08   9.   We should not abandon the Golan Hights. 08:09  |  Jean Van Daem 08/07/08   10.   Natallie fancies pencil necks 08:11  |  x-ray 08/07/08   11.   Assad and Olmert will attend a Summit in Paris 08:20  |  Dolly 08/07/08   12.   OLMERT AGAIN ? 08:32  |  Dolly 08/07/08   13.   Perhaps with Olmert ONLY 08:41  |  charlie 08/07/08   14.   Bush and Olmert will go, Assad will remain 10:29  |  Al 08/07/08   15.   ASSAD IS A SMART MAN 10:32  |  indrajaya 08/07/08   16.   Direct Talks NOT after Bush but AFTER OLMERT 10:38  |  Dagma 08/07/08   17.   Olmert faces Prima Facie Charges of a Criminal Nature 10:52  |  Josephus 08/07/08   18.   The Ace in Syria´s sleeve is Obama 12:19  |  AY 08/07/08   19.   Assad can sign and sustain peace. Olmert cant!! 13:18  |  Zav 08/07/08   20.   #18-You are Wrong--Obama=Strong Support for Israel 13:33  |  US CITIZEN 08/07/08   21.   Assad Is No Dummy - He`s Waiting for Obama 18:58  |  Tod Zuckerman 08/07/08   22.   Jerryk 19:18  |  Czarkazem13 08/07/08   23.   LOL @ AY 19:22  |  Czarkazem13 08/07/08   24.   Czarkazem13 19:59  |  Iz Ray Leigh 08/07/08   25.   Assad will generously allow Israel to give up the "high ground" 20:32  |  Voice of Reason 08/07/08   26.   God Beless TH ONLY PEACE MAKER! 23:48  |  Sharif Hafez 08/07/08   27.   Czarkazem13 23:58  |  Jerryk 08/07/08   28.   Israel-Syria Direct talks 00:58  |  Michael 09/07/08   29.   #21 Yep, Tod Zuckerman, the world 02:05  |  ballistic 09/07/08   30.   #18 Say AY 02:06  |  ballistic 09/07/08   31.   "ITZA CATCHA 22" 02:35  |  tad chase 09/07/08   32.   talks with Assad 07:45  |  Rachel Simson 09/07/08   33.   #30 Ballistic 12:21  |  AY 09/07/08   34.   #33 AY 18:49  |  ballistic 09/07/08   35.   Voice of reason # 25 Israel is the problem in the ME. A shameful 22:49  |  American in NY 09/07/08

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