SYRIA: President Bashar al-Assad says "crucial" talks with Israel postponed ; Turkey's PM Erdogan says talks to continue

Record ID: 278567

  • Title: SYRIA: President Bashar al-Assad says "crucial" talks with Israel postponed ; Turkey's PM Erdogan says talks to continue
  • Date: 4th September 2008
  • Summary: (W2) DAMASCUS, SYRIA (SEPTEMBER 4, 2008) (REUTERS) FRENCH PRESIDENT NICOLAS SARKOZY, TURKISH PRIME MINISTER RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN, SYRIAN PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD, QATAR EMIR SHEIKH HAMAD BIN KHALIFA AL-THANI AND OFFICIALS ENTERING MEETING ROOM WITH SUMMIT PARTICIPANTS CAMERAMAN SARKOZY AND ERDOGAN AND ASSAD AND QATARI EMIR WALKING THROUGH MEETING ROOM WITH OTHER OFFICIALS
  • Embargoed: 19th September 2008 13:00
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  • Reuters ID: LVAA7IFXZP5OKJN6BJJTR9HUX2GP
  • Story Text: Syria and Israel have postponed a crucial round of indirect peace talks due to the resignation of the chief Israeli negotiator, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Thursday (September 4) at the start of a four-way summit in the Syrian capital, which included the participation of France, Turkey and Qatar.
    But Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is acting as mediator, said at a news conference at the end of the summit that talks should resume later this month.
    The talks were meant to address specific proposals on how to reach a breakthrough between the long-time foes Israel and Syria.
    They have already held four rounds of indirect talks which centre on the fate of the Golan Heights, a strategic plateau which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Middle East war. Damascus demands the return of all the Golan.
    Israel, in return, wants Syria to scale back ties with its main foes -- Iran and the Palestinian Hamas and Lebanese Hezbollah militants groups. Syria has so far refused to do so.

    "There was supposed to be a fifth round, meant to be crucial, I think yesterday," Assad said.
    "The resignation of the chief Israeli negotiator led to the postponement of this round, which would have defined the course of these negotiations."
    Assad said Israel and Syria have separately put forward ideas for a declaration of principles under which they would move to direct talks.
    But progress was hampered by internal politics in Israel where Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is stepping down because of corruption charges, which he denies.
    Israeli negotiator Yoram Turbowicz announced his resignation as Olmert's chief of staff in July, shortly after the prime minister said he would leave office.
    Turbowicz agreed to continue to represent Israel at the Syria talks in a voluntary capacity but Israel's attorney-general has yet to authorise his participation.
    Assad did not say when the next round of the Turkish-mediated talks is expected. But Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan was quoted by Anatolian state news agency as saying they will take place Sept 18-19.

    "Concerning the fifth round there were some developments in the Israeli side but the process will continue and we are confident that the next Israeli Prime Minister will continue this process. Syria and President Assad showed very constructive positions and we are happy with the results we got and from those talks, even if they were indirect," Erdogan said at the news conference after the summit.
    The summit, which also looked at ways to support stability in neighbouring Lebanon, was attended by French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani as well as Assad and Erdogan.
    Assad said the Syrian proposals for the peace talks focused on defining the extent of Syrian territory under Israeli occupation as a basis for negotiating an Israeli withdrawal.
    The last direct talks between them stalled in 2000 in a dispute over how much of the Golan should go back to Syria.
    Syria favours moving to direct talks only after a new U.S.
    administration comes to office. Assad said an American role was necessary but Turkey will continue to be a main mediator.
    Olmert had wanted to hold direct talks swiftly, although he is committed to resigning after his Kadima party holds a leadership election on Sept. 17.
    Syria and Israel announced their indirect talks earlier this year, months after Israeli warplanes raided a target in eastern Syria that the United States said was a nuclear reactor under construction.
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