Netanyahu in Paris: Israel is ready for talks with Syria

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday Israel is prepared to hold immediate peace negotiations with Syria, as long as the talks are held without preconditions.

Netanyahu made the remarks in response to a question from French President Nicolas Sarkozy, with whom he met for more than an hour and a half in Paris. Their talks focused on reviving Middle East peace efforts and Iran's contentious nuclear program.

After the meeting, the two shook hands but did not speak to reporters.

In a joint statement, the two leaders said they agreed to make every effort to revive the peace process. No agreement was reached on freezing construction in West Bank settlements, a demand that has topped the agenda for Palestinians and the United States.

Their statement said they discussed international efforts to stop Iran's nuclear program in light of latest developments - Iran's apparent rejection of an international proposal to send uranium abroad for enrichment.

Netanyahu's declaration regarding Syria came hours after Syrian President Bashar Assad said he would not set any preconditions for peace negotiations with Israel. Two days after Netanyahu's visit, Assad will be in Paris for talks with Sarkozy. French officials have said the two meetings are not linked, seeking to kill off any speculation that France might try to act as middleman.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said on Tuesday ahead of Netanyahu's visit that France fears that Israel no longer desires a Middle East peace deal. He also said that Paris remained deeply opposed to settlement construction in the West Bank.

Speaking on France Inter radio, Kouchner made it clear he was not expecting any swift breakthrough in Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations.

Kouchner confirmed on Tuesday that he would now visit the region "in the coming days" and said he would use the trip to try to persuade Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to run for reelection in a ballot slated for January. Sarkozy called Abbas on Tuesday with the same request.