Assad: No Israeli partner for peace
By ReutersDAMASCUS - Syria cannot make peace with Israel because the Jewish state is not committed to reaching a deal, Syrian President Bashar Assad said yesterday.
"Achieving peace requires an Israeli partner and commitment to international law, United Nations resolutions and the land for peace principles," Assad said after meeting his Greek counterpart Karolos Papoulias.
"This Israeli partner does not currently exist."
Syria has repeatedly said it wants to resume peace talks with Israel, but has demanded a prior commitment from the Jewish state to withdraw from the whole of the Golan Heights, which Israel captured in the Six-Day War in 1967.
Turkey mediated indirect talks between the two foes during Ehud Olmert's term as prime minister, but the talks were suspended in December 2008.
Ankara said earlier this month that it was keen to resume mediation.
In May, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered to talk to Syria, but said he would not make any prior commitments on land.
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman blamed what he termed Syrian maneuvers for the fact that negotiations have not resumed.
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