Barak: Only U.S. can help Israel-Syria talks; Syria: No chance of Assad-Olmert handshake

Israel and Syria are unlikely to hold direct peace negotiations before the end of the year, especially without the involvement of the United States, Defense Minister Ehud Barak was quoted as saying yesterday.

Barak told the French newspaper Le Monde that indirect talks between the neighboring countries, which are currently being mediated by Turkey, amounted to "preliminary contacts," not negotiations.

"I don't think we will have negotiations before the end of this year without the contribution of the Americans, who alone can help bridge the gaps," he said, adding he believed the United States would get involved in the future.

But he said a meeting between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Syrian President Bashar Assad could provide a psychological boost that could move the process forward.

The interview came amid speculation Olmert and Assad may meet during a July 13 summit of European and Mediterranean leaders in Paris.

Also yesterday, Assad said he needed to see more progress in Turkey-mediated indirect peace talks with Israel before he would agree to a meeting with Olmert.

In India on a four-day visit, Assad said, "This is not like drinking tea," when asked if he would meet Olmert in Paris.

"The meeting between me and the Israeli prime minister will be meaningless without the technocrats laying the foundation, without reaching the final stage," he said. Calling the Turkey-mediated talks "some glimmer of hope," Assad said the Israeli government needed do more if it wanted a meeting between him and Olmert. "Only sending signals without real result is meaningless," he said.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem was quoted in the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat yesterday as saying there were no plans for the two leaders to shake hands during the Paris summit.

Assad and Olmert are expected to attend the Mediterranean Union Summit slated for July 13 to launch a French-proposed economic alliance between Europe and countries on the southern coast of the Mediterranean, including Syria and Israel.