EU calls for renewal of indirect Israel-Syria peace talks
Earlier this month, Turkey said was prepared to resume mediating talks between Syria and Israel.
By DPA Tags: EU Israel news Middle East peaceThe European Union's top diplomat Tuesday called on Syria and Israel to resume indirect peace talks, which have been stalled since last year.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Damascus with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said resuming the Syrian-Israeli negotiations was "extremely important" for the EU.
"The most important issue for the EU is to push the two sides to activate their talks," Ashton said, noting that the resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict would pave the way for wider agreements in the region.
Earlier this month, Turkey announced that it was prepared to resume mediating indirect talks between Syria and Israel, but only if both parties agreed.
Negotiations reached a stalemate after the resignation of former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Syria then withdrew from the talks in protest at Israel's three-week offensive in the Gaza Strip early last year.
"We did not receive a time frame from Turkey for the negotiations," said al-Moallem, "but Syria has full confidence in Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan."
During her visit to Damascus, Ashton met with President Bashar Assad and discussed bilateral relations, as well as means to foster the EU's role in the region
Syria was the second stop of Ashton's first tour of the Middle East since assuming the EU post. The bloc's foreign policy chief arrived in Cairo on Monday and will be visiting Lebanon, the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, Israel and Jordan.
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The only nation left bordering upon Israel that can be considered a 'threat' by the most paranoid of people is Syria. True, the Syrian army is obsolete, it's air force a joke and it abandoned any dream of expunging Israel after the catastrophic defeat in 1973. But Syria is very useful to those Israeli's who have a political or pathological need to feel threatened. Peace with Syria would mean that there was no credible existential threat on Israel's border. Where would the Israeli right be without the fear of instant annihilation? Without a reason to exist, that is where. Why didn't the Syrian army swarm down off the Golan in 1973? 1. It was after the Golan. 2. It didn't want Damascus to become a glowing smoking hole. 3. Both.
I realize America the E U all push Israel to give back the Golen Heights already a small country Syria so big it has so much land but of course pushing the J*ws is a old American european tradition sport custom whatever and so bully the J*ws are there any Europeans who are no not N**is I think no not they all are even the Swiss RIGHT ??? Thank You... M. S.
EUROPIANS - WHO ARE YOU TO CALL FOR RENEWAL OF PEACE TALKS?DON'T PUT YOUR LONG NOSE TO THE PROBLEMS OF OTHER COUNTRY!ENOUGH OF DOUBLE STANDARDS!
A friendly warning: The US Military's NUMBER ONE CONCERN in the region right now is the safe and orderly withdraw of troops from Iraq. Syria, and the securing of the Syrian border is THE SINGLE TOP MILITARY OBJECTIVE. Towards that military objective, Syria is once again being courted as a US ally -- exactly as Syria was an ally during the first Iraq war under George Bush. Both Republican and the Democratic party leaders support the military's desire for cooperation with Syria in order to avoid a withdraw under fire. Israel WILL support the US soldiers, and the US military. It is time for Israel to re-pay the price for all of the UNSC automatic vetos that the US has given Israel. Do NOT play your typical politics over the issue of Syria right now. Again, just a friendly warning from an American citizen. Spit in my face at your own peril.
es. the world is full of buffoons who believe their own b/s . this woman is apaid up member of the loony left !
I'm sick and tired of everyone trying to pin the tail on the donkey and blame Israel for all the woes of the Middle East. The better approach would be to hold accountable all of the radical/violent Islamic regimes who simply want to wipe Israel out of existence. Peace? You've got to be kiddding! Not with the likes of the alignment with the Axis of Evil...and I do mean Iran, Syria, Hezbollah, Hamas. Peace is not on their agenda, make no mistake about it. Look to the right source for "peace"! Israel is NOT the problem!!!
..This sub-issue of the peace process must be dealt with simultaneously. Israel needs to get over its fears, which are based on old(40 years) fears/actions..it's a new world since 9/11..Israel change with it..